11 

IF. 

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University   of    North  Carolina 

Endowed  by  the  Dialectic  and  Philan- 
thropic Societies. 


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ysPS 


91 

UNIVERSITY  OF  N  C.  AT  CHAPEL  HILL 


00034043623 

FOR  USE  ONLY  IN 
rHE  NORTH  CAROLINA  COLLECTION 


7  Wo.  A-368,  Rev.  8/95 


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PUBLIC  LETTERS  AND  PAPERS 


OF 


LOCKE  CRAIG 


GOVERNOR  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 
]  913-1917 


COMPILED  AND  EDITED  BY 

MAY  F.  JONES 

PRIVATE  SECRETARY 


RALEIGH 

EDWARDS  &  BROUGHTON  PRINTING  COMPANY 

STATE  PRINTERS 

1916 


0 
0 

^9 


FROM  THE  NORTH  CAROLINA  DEMOCRATIC  HAND-BOOK,  1916 

"The  figures  throughout  this  article  show  that  the  four  years  under  the  adminis- 
tration of  Governor  Craig  have  been  marked  by  the  same  character  of  service 
that  has  made  the  last  sixteen  years  the  most  notable  in  North  Carolina's  history. 
At  every  point,  in  education,  in  agriculture,  in  manufacturing,  it  may  safely  be 
said  that  under  Governor  Craig's  leadership  the  rate  of  progress,  set  by  Aycock 
and  kept  by  Glenn  and  Kitchin,  has  been  more  than  maintained  by  him.  In 
addition  to  this,  the  Craig  administration  has  been  marked  by  two  achievements 
of  the  first  magnitude — neither  of  them  surpassed  in  the  State's  history: 

First,  the  adjustment  of  interstate  freight  rates,  to  enable  North  Carolina  points 
to  compete  with  points  in  other  States.  By  this  adjustment,  demanded  by  Governor 
Craig  in  his  inaugural  address  and  pressed  with  great  vigor  throughout  his  adminis- 
tration, the  saving  to  North  Carolinians  has  amounted  to  millions  of  dollars — the 
evidence  of  which  is  seen  in  the  flourishing  condition  of  our  commerce. 

Second,  the  improvement  of  our  public  highways,  known  as  the  Good  Roads 
movement.  This  movement  has  in  four  years  swept  the  State.  One  has  but  to  go 
in  any  direction  to  realize  the  vast  change  for  the  better  that  has  been  wrought 
in  four  years.  In  such  a  matter  it  is  difficult  to  state  the  facts  in  figures.  We 
have  now  not  less  than  10,000  miles  of  improved  highways  ramifying  the  entire 
Commonwealth  and  enabling  our  farmers  to  market  their  products  with  ease  and 
at  their  convenience,  and  bringing  town  and  country  closer  together  with  immeasur- 
able benefit  to  both. 

"These  two  achievements  have  not  been  of  the  sensational  sort;  they  are  the 
result  of  courageous  and  patient  leadership,  wise  planning  and  painful  labor.' 
But  as  time  passes  our  people  will  look  back  to  the  last  four  years  and  bear  witness 
to  the  fact  that  Governor  Craig's  administration  has  in  constructive  achievements 
been  unsurpassed,  if  ever  equaled,  since  Vance  rebuilt  the  Commonwealth  upon 
the  ruins  of  Republican  "Reconstruction."  He  has  given  us  a  monumental  evidence 
of  political  virility  in  the  sixteenth  year  of  unbroken  Democratic  service." — 
Pages  45  and  46. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS 

I  Page 

Messages  to  the  General  Assembly 7 

II 
Reduction  op  Freight  Rates 57 

III 
Proclamations  by  the  Governor 133 

IV 
Highways 147 

V 
Parole  of  State's  Prisoners 169 

VI 
State's  Prisoners,  Hiring  of  to  Railroads,  Etc 189 

VII 

Fraudulent  and  Repudiated  North  Carolina  Bonds 195 

VIII 

Agreement  of  Atlantic  Coast  Line  Railway  Not  to  Remove  Cases  Pend- 
ing to  Federal  Courts 203 

IX 

Vance  Statue  Commission 209 

X 

Mitchell's  Peak  Pake 215 

XI 
Mobilization  of  the  National  Guard 223 

XII 

Relief  of  Flood  Sufferers 231 

XIII 
Fisheries  Commission   243 

XIV 
Highway  Commission   247 

XV 
Supplemental 251 


(I) 

MESSAGES  TO  THE  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY 


MESSAGES  TO  THE  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY1 

1.  Inaugural  Address,  January  15,  1913. 

2.  Opening  of  the  Panama  Canal. 

3.  In  regard  to  raising  Revenue,  March  6,  1913. 

4.  Appointments  submitted  to  the  Senate  for  ratification,  March 

10,  1913. 

5.  Commission  to  consider  amendments  to  the  Constitution  sub- 

mitted to  the  Senate  for  ratification,  March  — ,  1913. 

6.  Biennial  Message  to  the  General  Assembly,  Session  1915. 

7.  List   of   employees,    Governor's    Office,    with   their  salaries, 

January  8,  1915. 

8.  Appropriation  by  Federal  Government  for  cooperative  Agri- 

culture extension  work,  January,  1915. 

9.  Submitting  letter  from  the  Secretary  of  Agriculture,  together 

with  proposed  bill  for  the  protection  of  fish  and  game  on 
lands  in  State  purchased  by  Federal  Government. 

10.  Transmitting  reports  of  the  various  institutions  of  the  State, 

January,  1915. 

11.  Appointments  State  Board  of  Education,  submitted  to  the 

Senate  for  ratification,  February  25,  1916. 

12.  Appointments  submitted  to  Senate  for  ratification,  March 

6,  1916. 

13.  Biennial  Message  to  the  General  Assembly,  Session  1911 . 

lThese  messages  do  not  include  those  in  regard  to  the  Reduction  of  Freight  Rate9. 


(1) 

INAUGURAL  ADDRESS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

DELIVERED  AT  RALEIGH  AUDITORIUM,  JANUARY  15,  1913 

Gentlemen  of  the  General  Assembly  and  My  Fellow  Citizens: 

Democracy  gives  to  the  people  the  pledge  of  progress.  The  thought  of  the  age 
has  created  a  nobler  purpose  in  government.  The  Democratic  party  intends  to 
effectuate  this  purpose  by  legislation  in  recognition  of  the  equal  rights  of  man, 
and  for  the  progressive  welfare  of  all  the  ranks  of  life. 

In  our  material  prosperity,  privilege  has  been  substituted  for  justice.  The 
vast  wealth  of  modem  industry,  the  products  of  labor  and  genius  have  not  been 
divided  in  equity,  but  have  been  gathered  into  the  enormous  fortunes  of  the  few. 

AMERICAN   PEOPLE  HAVE   PUT   THEIR  HANDS  TO   THE   PLOW 

We  have  not  realized  the  moral  benefits  that  should  have  resulted  from  modern 
progress.  Avarice  has  been  stimulated;  hope  and  opportunity  have  been  denied; 
antagonism  and  resentments  have  been  generated.  All  classes  have  suffered.  We 
realize  the  conditions;  the  injustice  has  been  uncovered.  It  cannot  stand  in  the 
clear,  calm  and  resolute  gaze  of  the  American  people.  They  are  determined  that 
our  law  shall  be  based  upon  a  higher  conception  of  social  obligation  and  that  our 
civilization  shall  mean  a  higher  social  life.  They  have  put  their  hands  to  the  plow 
and  will  not  look  back. 

THE  LEAVEN"  OF  DEMOCRACY 

A  new  era  has  dawned;  the  last  election  marks  the  beginning  of  an  epoch  in 
our  government.  The  Republican  party  had  the  prestige  of  victory  and  tradition ; 
it  had  the  power  of  place  and  of  organized  wealth ;  but  it  stood  for  privilege — it 
took  from  the  republic  its  highest  meaning,  that  equal  justice  is  the  inalienable 
heritage  of  men;  it  stood  for  that  prosperity  which  is  not  the  handmaid  of  moral 
and  intellectual  growth ;  it  stood  in  the  path  of  the  progressive  thought  of  the  age ; 
with  all  its  power  and  prestige  it  was  crushed.  Like  the  leaven  which  the  woman 
hid  in  three  measures  of  meal,  the  leaven  of  Democracy  has  been  at  work. 

In  this  time  of  difficulty  and  hope  the  country  turns  for  guidance  to  the  Demo- 
cratic party. 

SPIRIT   OF  PROGRESS 

The  spirit  of  progress  pervades  the  Union  and  the  people  demand  legislation 
responsive  to  the  impulse  of  the  age. 

North  Carolina  will  not  continue  to  march  in  the  rear  of  the  procession  of  the 
States.  She  is  impatient  for  the  advance.  Throbbing  with  energy,  potential  with 
accomplishment,  she  looks  expectant  to  this  administration  and  to  this  General 
Assembly.  I  believe  that  you  Senators  and  Representatives  will  perform  your 
task  with  wisdom  and  courage  and  that  your  work  will  be  for  the  welfare  of  this 
generation  and  of  our  posterity.    The  responsibility  is  ours,  the  opportunity  is  ours. 


10  LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

IDEALS    MILITANT   FOE   JUSTICE 

Constitutional  government  and  the  ideals  of  the  fathers  have  ever  been  sacred 
to  the  Democratic  party;  but  these  ideals  must  be  vital  for  practical  accomplish- 
ment and  militant  for  justice.  It  was  said  of  the  celebrated  opinion  of  Chief 
Justice  Taney,  that  "it  gave  the  law  to  the  North  and  the  nigger  to  the  South." 
We  are  not  content  with  the  forms  and  ceremonies  of  the  law.  The  ideals  of  our 
government  must  be  applied  to  present  conditions. 

PROTECTION  OF  THE  WEAK 

The  first  duty  of  the  State  is  to  protect  the  citizen  in  the  enjoyment  of  his 
rights,  to  protect  the  weak  from  the  oppression  of  the  strong.  This  is  what  the 
men  were  doing  at  Runnymede. 

FREIGHT    DISCRIMINATION 

The  discrimination  which  the  railroads  have  made  against  North  Carolina  in 
freight  rates  is  the  injustice  of  arbitrary  power.  It  has  already  worked  irrepar- 
able injury;  it  has  already  cost  our  people  millions  of  dollars  and  driven  from  our 
territory  industries  the  value  of  which  we  cannot  estimate.  These  corporations 
have  the  protection  of  our  laws,  they  operate  by  our  license,  they  enjoy  privileges, 
and  exercise  the  sovereign  power  of  eminent  domain  granted  by  the  State.  They 
collect  excessive  rates  from  our  people  that  cheaper  rates  may  be  granted  to  the 
people  of  adjoining  States. 

I  feel  no  antagonism  to  railroads.  I  know  that  our  welfare,  to  a  large  extent, 
is  dependent  upon  their  efficient  operation,  which  can  only  result  from  just  remu- 
neration. I  know  that  their  prosperity  is  coexistent  with  our  prosperity.  Besides, 
for  no  consideration  can  the  State  afford  to  be  unjust.  I  intend,  as  the  chief 
executive  of  this  State,  to  administer  her  laws  with  impartiality  and  with  even- 
handed  justice  to  corporation  and  to  individual,  to  the  great  and  to  the  lowly. 
But  when  any  corporation  or  any  person  shall  persistently  and  defiantly  by  arbi- 
trary wrong  cripple  the  industries  of  this  State  and  despoil  her  people,  such  person 
or  corporation  may  expect  relentless  resistance  and  resentment. 

OUGHT  TO  BE  MORE   TOLERABLE   FOR  SODOM  AND  GOMORRAH 

Vance  said  of  those  who  were  exploiting  the  State  in  1876,  that  it  ought  to  be 
more  tolerable  for  Sodom  and  Gomorrah  in  the  day  of  judgment  than  for  such 
in  North  Carolina.     The  spirit  of  Vance  and  1876  lives  today. 

The  city  of  High  Point  is  to  be  congratulated  that  in  the  shipment  of  its 
furniture  to  the  West  it  will  have  the  same  freight  rate  as  rival  cities  of  Virginia. 
The  same  rule  must  apply  to  all  our  cities  and  to  all  our  commerce. 

WILL   COMPEL  JUSTICE 

This  administration  is  ready  to  put  into  operation  the  executive  power  of  the 
State  to  prevent  the  continuation  of  this  wrong.  I  feel  sure  that  this  General 
Assembly  is  ready  to  exercise  any  constitutional  power  to  compel  justice. 

Is  it  possible  that  any  person  or  any  industry  within  our  territory  shall  not  be 
accorded  by  common  carriers  the  same  rights  that  are  enjoyed  by  the  people  of 


MESSAGES  TO  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY  11 

other  States  ?  If  this  be  so,  then  ours  is  a  territory  to  move  out  of.  And  hundreds 
of  industries  have  moved.  "We  occupy  the  land  and  boast  of  the  lineage  and  bear 
the  names  of  the  Englishmen  of  Halifax  and  of  the  Scotch-Irish  of  Mecklenburg. 
"We  have  inherited  Magna  Charta,  but  it  is  worthless  without  the  spirit  of  the  men 
who  made  it. 

We  will  win.  The  State  will  receive  immense  benefit.  Our  industries  will  feel 
the  impulse  and  new  ones  will  spring  up. 

north  Carolina's  tribute  to  monopoly 

North  Carolina  has  paid,  too,  her  quota  of  tribute  to  the  rapacity  of  unlawful 
monopoly.  We  have  been  preyed  upon  by  trusts  abroad  and  by  trusts  at  home. 
They  take  from  the  earnings  of  all.  The  poor  must  suffer  most.  The  farmers 
especially  have  been  plundered  and  oppressed  in  the  open  day,  without  hindrance, 
by  a  great  concern  adjudged  now  to  be  in  violation  of  law.  "We  have  been  a 
patient,  long-suffering  people.  In  our  platform  there  is  promised  legislation  that 
"will  make  the  existence  of  these  concerns  impossible."  There  is  promised  the 
enforcement  of  the  civil  and  criminal  law  against  the  trust  and  against  the  man 
behind  the  trust. 

TRUST    LAWS    WITH    HANDCUFFS 

In  the  fulfillment  of  this  promise  we  need  a  trust  law,  clad  in  blue  uniform, 
that  can  raid  a  trust  den  with  a  warrant  and  handcuffs  in  its  hand.  The  guilty 
should  be  made  to  tremble,  the  innocent  may  fear  not.  While  I  am  Governor  no 
innocent  man  shall  suffer  by  the  criminal  law. 

The  cry  will  be  raised  that  such  legislation  will  injure  business.  The  trust 
will  shield  itself,  if  possible,  behind  legitimate  industry.  It  will  paralyze,  if  it 
can,  the  hand  of  justice  by  warnings  of  disaster  from  the  interference  with  business. 

DESTRUCTION    OF    PIRACY    PROTECTION    OF    BUSINESS 

The  destruction  of  piracy  is  the  protection  of  industry.  It  is  the  duty  of  the 
State  to  protect  and  to  encourage  every  enterprise,  small  and  great.  And  this  is 
the  age  of  large  enterprises.  They  are  essential  in  the  economy  of  our  civilization 
and  are  the  agencies  of  its  tremendous  power  and  accomplishment.  "All  the  cur- 
rents of  the  time  run  to  centralization.  To  successfully  resist  it  we  must  throttle 
steam  and  discharge  electricity  from  human  service."  But  these  forces  should  be 
for  the  service  and  not  for  the  oppression  of  mankind. 

WATER    POWERS 

One  of  the  greatest  works  to  be  done  in  North  Carolina  is  the  development  of 
her  water  powers.  This  enterprise  is  now  beginning  to  assume  its  splendid  pro- 
portions. It  is  potential  with  magnificent  upbuilding.  The  energy  of  our  rivers, 
which  has  been  wasted  in  wild  cataract  and  cascade,  has  been  harnessed  and  driven 
to  cities  and  towns  in  currents  of  power  obedient  for  all  manner  of  service.  This 
industry  should  be  welcomed  and  encouraged.  The  men  behind  it  are  benefactors 
of  the  State.  The  policy  of  our  law  is  that  the  State  shall  regulate  and  control 
public-service  corporations.  These  water  powers  are  the  natural  agencies  for 
public  service.  They  are  natural  monopolies,  and  since  the  time  of  the  ancient 
gristmills  have  been  subject  to  governmental  regulations.     The  corporations  oper- 


12  LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

ating  these  water  powers  for  public  use  should  be  controlled  by  our  corporation 
commission.  This  must  be  done  eventually,  and  it  is  but  fair  and  right  that  it 
should  be  done  now.  We  should  always  remember,  however,  that  remuneration 
should  be  in  proportion  to  the  boldness  of  the  conception  and  to  the  risk  of  the 
enterprise.    This  is  just. 

employee's  liability  law 

For  the  protection  of  the  people  who  work  in  factories  and  on  the  railroads 
we  should  have  an  employer's  liability  law.  It  should  provide  reasonable  compen- 
sation for  injury  or  death,  without  the  delay  and  the  expense  of  litigation.  This 
law  should  be  just  to  employer  and  employee,  and  it  would  be  to  the  advantage  of 
both.  It  would  eliminate  the  contingencies  and  expense  objectionable  to  both.  It 
is  demanded  by  good  business  as  well  as  by  the  progressive  humanity  of  the  age. 

From  the  task  of  protection  we  proceed  to  the  grander  task  of  construction. 

NORTH   CAROLINA   A   FARMER   STATE 

We  have  in  North  Carolina  two  and  a  half  millions  of  people  of  pure  English 
and  Scotch-Irish  blood.  We  rejoice  in  the  enterprise  and  industry  and  courage 
of  our  urban  population,  and  we  honor  our  leaders  in  business,  the  master  men 
who  have  built  up  and  organized  great  industries  and  developed  our  expanding 
commerce.  But  this  is  essentially  a  farmer  State,  and  will  be  for  generations. 
We  have  no  large  cities.  Eighty  per  cent  of  our  population  is  rural — good,  sturdy 
farmer  folks.  They  grow  and  spend  their  lives  in  the  country.  Their  destiny, 
the  destiny  of  our  commonwealth,  the  destiny  of  us  all,  must  be  determined  by 
the  conditions  that  exist  in  the  country. 

NEGLECT  OF  HEALTH  AND  EDUCATION 

North  Carolina  is  a  grand  old  State,  her  past  has  been  heroic  in  peace  and  in 
war.  But  we  must  confess  with  humiliation,  that  we  have  neglected  our  country 
children  worse  than  any  other  State  in  the  Union,  save  one  or  two.  In  the  dis- 
charge of  the  sacred  duty  of  protecting  their  health  and  the  paramount  duty  of 
providing  for  their  education,  we  stand  among  the  lowest.  We  must  expiate  this 
sin  before  we  can  longer  claim  our  noble  heritage. 

NATURAL  CONDITIONS   OF  HEALTH 

The  State  has  been  blessed  with  all  the  natural  conditions  conducive  to  health 
and  strength.  Sufferers  from  far  countries  come  here  to  recover  from  disease  and 
to  renew  the  vigor  of  youth  in  our  salubrious  air.  But  we  have  allowed  disease 
and  death  to  stalk  abroad  at  noonday.  Most  of  the  serious  diseases  are  preventable 
diseases.  Formerly  the  work  of  the  doctor  was  to  heal  the  sick,  now  it  is  to  pre- 
serve health.  The  beneficence  of  scientific  medicine  is  to  drive  back  disease  and 
suffering.  Men  and  women  and  children  suffer  and  die  from  causes  that  could 
be  removed.  They  are  deaf  and  dumb,  and  feebleminded,  and  are  stricken  with 
blindness  and  insanity,  condemned  to  lives  of  darkness  and  hopelessness,  not  by 
the  inscrutable  decrees  of  Providence,  but  by  the  failure  of  society  to  protect  them 
against  the  enemy  more  cruel  than  death.  The  courage  and  energy  of  a  conquer- 
ing race  must  spring  from  robust  health. 


MESSAGES  TO  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY  13 

J 

PROTECTION   OF  HEALTH 

We  must  provide  for  the  accurate  record  of  births  and  deaths  and  the  causes 
of  disease  in  every  community.  We  can  thus  ascertain  with  accuracy  the  sanitary 
conditions  in  each  community  and  intelligently  work  for  the  prevention  of  disease 
and  for  the  promotion  of  health.  Each  county  and  each  city  should  have  an  intelli- 
gent, efficient,  well-paid  health  officer.  We  can  appeal  to  our  citizenship  through 
the  press,  the  schoolhouse  and  the  pulpit  and  encourage  them  to  purer  and  more 
healthful  home  conditions,  to  the  inestimable  blessings  of  all  the  people. 

MILL   MEN   COMMENDED 

The  mill  men  of  North  Carolina  deserve  commendation  for  the  humane  spirit 
with  which  they  have  cared  for  the  health  and  education  of  their  employees  and 
the  children  of  their  employees.  In  many  places  they  have  provided  schools  and 
libraries  and  comfortable  reading  rooms.  Some  of  the  great  organizers  and  heads 
of  industries  take  the  most  active  interest  in  the  cleanliness  of  their  factory  towns 
and  the  welfare  of  their  workers.  But  the  State  should  not  neglect  her  duty  longer 
because  individuals  have  sometimes  done  their  duty. 

I  doubt  not  that  the  General  Assembly  will  ratify  by  statute  the  humane  recom- 
mendations made  for  the  protection  of  women  and  children  by  the  committee  of 
mill  men  and  the  committee  of  the  Society  for  the  Protection  of  Child  Labor. 

EDUCATION   OF   COUNTRY   CHILDREN 

The  highest  duty  of  society  is  the  education  of  the  children.  The  command  to 
educate  our  country  children  has  been  thundered  from  the  conscience  of  the  age. 
When  in  obedience  to  the  demands  of  the  people  and  of  justice  to  the  child,  the 
General  Assembly  shall  provide  for  a  sis  months  rural  school,  North  Carolina  will 
feel  the  impulse  of  an  exalted  hope.  Then  it  will  not  be  long  before  the  stigma  of 
ignorance  will  be  wiped  out,  the  stigma  which  through  the  long  years  has  been  our 
misfortune  and  our  humiliation. 

This  act  of  beneficent  wisdom  will  reach  down  to  the  children  of  the  lowliest 
and  lift  them  up  to  a  clearer  vision.  It  will  show  them  hope  and  endow  them  with 
a  new  strength.  It  will  lift  the  whole  State  up  and  give  to  her  a  nobler  and  a 
grander  meaning.  And  prosperity,  and  juster  laws,  and  nobler  institutions  and 
ideals  will  follow  in  the  train  of  universal  enlightenment. 

COMPULSORY    EDUCATION 

The  time  has  come  for  the  State  to  exercise  her  sovereign  authority  and  compel 
the  attendance  of  her  children  upon  the  schools.  The  child  cannot  work  to  advan- 
tage, but  his  mind  is  eager  for  knowledge  and  most  retentive.  His  character  is 
responsive  to  culture.  The  factory  is  no  place  for  the  child.  The  drudgery  of 
toil  is  not  his  rightful  inheritance  before  his  bones  are  hard  or  his  muscles  are 
firm.    If  we  grind  the  seed  corn,  there  will  be  a  failure  in  the  crop  of  men. 

HIGHER  INSTITUTIONS    OF  LEARNING 

Our  institutions  of  higher  learning  must  be  sustained  in  their  full  vigor  and 
efficiency.  They  are  the  dynamic  centers  of  culture  and  are  essential  to  the  life 
of  the  State.  If  we  should  allow  them  to  begin  to  degenerate,  our  whole  educa- 
tional system  would  begin  to  lose  its  vitality  and  power. 


14    LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 


CHARITABLE  INSTITUTIONS 

Our  eleemosynary  institutions  must  be  maintained  in  the  high  state  of  efficiency 
for  which  they  have  been  noted.  We  must  make  provision  for  the  deaf  and  the 
dumb  and  the  blind  and  the  insane  and  the  feeble-minded.  When  in  their  distress 
and  weakness  they  stretch  forth  their  hands  to  us,  they  should  not  be  driven  back 
as  were  the  blind  men  in  the  way  to  Jerusalem,  for  it  was  the  Christ  who  said : 
"Inasmuch  as  ye  did  it  unto  the  least  of  these,  my  little  ones,  ye  did  it  unto  me." 

PENSIONS   FOE  CONFEDERATE   SOLDIERS 

I  hope  that  you  can  provide  a  more  generous  pension  for  the  Confederate 
soldiers.  More  than  a  half  century  ago  they  went  in  youth  and  strength  to  meet 
the  invading  host.  Some  fell  amid  the  fierce  tumult  of  historic  days  beneath  the 
advancing  flag,  enshrined  in  eternal  youth;  many  have  passed  since  the  war;  the 
remnant  of  the  heroic  army  is  with  us  yet.  Most  of  them  are  poor,  all  are  disabled 
by  age  and  the  wounds  and  hardships  of  war.  Our  privilege  to  help  them  is 
closing,  for  the  captains  and  the  soldiers  are  departing.  Soon  it  will  be  written 
what  we  did  for  the  last  of  the  battle-scarred  men  of  Dixie. 

ENCOURAGEMENT   OF  AGRICULTURE 

We  should  encourage  all  of  our  industries,  but  especially  should  be  stimulate 
the  growth  of  agriculture.  Its  wonderful  improvement  is  already  an  inspiration. 
Our  farmers  are  beginning  to  reap  the  harvests  of  the  intelligent  utilization  of 
the  soil. 

We  should  provide  by  every  feasible  method,  for  their  protection,  and  for  their 
obtaining  the  credits  and  the  means,  that  increasing  prosperity  may  come. 

HIGHWAYS 

Improved  highways  are  the  arteries  of  the  country.  They  create  organized 
communities  of  isolated  families  and  make  these  communities  a  part  of  the  life 
of  the  great  world.  Dynamite  and  the  steam  shovel  are  making  through  the  hills 
and  through  the  granite  of  the  mountains,  pathways  for  the  locomotive.  The 
improved  road  would  give  the  farmers  access  to  the  railroad,  to  the  church,  and  to 
the  school  during  all  seasons  of  the  year.  Good  roads  stimulate  improvement. 
They  enrich  the  soil.  They  arouse  ambition  and  generous  emulation.  They 
increase  the  value  of  every  acre  of  land  that  they  touch  and  the  value  of  every 
man,  woman  and  child  whose  home  they  pass.  No  community  can  hope  for  progress 
without  the  good  road.  We  cannot  have  the  benefits  of  modern  civilization  with- 
out it.  It  is  not  an  expense;  it  is  an  investment  that  pays  one  hundred  per  cent 
dividend  every  year.  And  more,  it  brings  culture  and  contentment  and  a  better 
social  life.  Every  community  in  the  State  must  have  it.  The  cost  is  much  less 
than  it  was  a  few  years  ago. 

I  think  that  a  general  statute  should  be  enacted,  conferring  upon  the  townships 
the  power  to  levy  taxes  and  issue  bonds  for  road  construction  and  providing  admin- 
istrative machinery.  The  counties  can  continue  what  they  have  been  doing.  The 
townships  can  complete  and  perfect  the  system.  The  State  should  supervise  and 
encourage  this  great  work  by  lending  its  credit  and  by  all  practicable,  feasible 


MESSAGES  TO  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY  15 

means.  All  available  convicts  should  be  worked  on  the  public  roads.  In  this  way 
they  can  be  used  more  appropriately  and  more  to  the  advantage  of  the  public  than 
in  the  cultivation  of  the  field  or  in  the  mechanical  arts. 

HOPE  OF  FINEST  DEVELOPMENT  IS  IN  THE   COUNTRY 

It  is  not  strange  that  in  the  past  thousands  of  young  men  and  women,  yearning 
for  a  larger  life,  have  left  the  loneliness  and  poverty  of  the  farm  with  its  denial 
of  culture  and  social  enjoyment.  These  conditions  are  passing  away ;  the  telephone 
now  puts  the  home  of  the  farmer  in  communication  with  his  neighbors  and  with 
the  men  and  the  markets  of  the  world.  The  mail  carrier  brings  the  daily  paper 
pulsing  with  "the  thoughts  that  shake  mankind."  The  home  on  the  farm  with  its 
freedom  and  purity,  with  all  the  opportunities  of  civilization  is  the  hope  of  our 
finest  development. 

PRIMARY 

The  legislation  of  North  Carolina  has  heretofore  been  considerate  of  the  wel- 
fare of  the  people  and  fairly  responsive  to  their  demands.  This  State  has  not 
suffered  as  other  States  have  suffered  from  corrupt  and  sinister  influences,  but 
these  evils  will  come  to  us  too  unless  we  provide  against  them. 

The  primary  election  is  already  a  recognized  institution  in  our  politics.  It  is 
a  logical  evolution  of  our  democracy.  "We  have  it,  and  let  us  have  it  in  its  best 
possible  form.  Let  us  provide  for  it  by  law  and  let  us  protect  it  by  law.  To  the 
limit  of  the  law  let  us  guarantee  purity  and  fairness  in  all  elections.  The  Demo- 
cratic party  has  set  its  face  steadfastly  against  all  manner  of  corruption.  This 
General  Assembly,  in  accordance  with  the  declaration  in  the  platform,  will  enact 
a  statute  for  the  conviction  and  punishment  of  all  persons  that  would  by  any 
method  of  corruption  whatsoever  attempt  to  influence  elections  or  the  making  or 
the  administration  of  the  law. 

TAXATION  AND  REVENUE 

The  most  difficult  question  for  this  General  Assembly  is  the  raising  of  a  suffi- 
cient revenue  to  meet  the  necessities  of  the  State.  The  problem  of  taxation  is 
always  difficult  and  vital.  The  government  must  be  economically  administered. 
No  extravagance  should  be  tolerated.  "We  must  provide  revenue  for  all  appropri- 
ations and  necessary  expenses.  With  the  State  as  with  the  individual,  the  element- 
ary rule  of  business  is,  to  live  within  your  means.  "We  are  going  to  inevitable 
bankruptcy  if  we  continually  spend  more  than  our  income. 

AMPLE   RESOURCES 

But  North  Carolina  has  ample  resources  with  which  to  meet  all  her  financial 
obligations.  Within  the  last  decade  the  value  of  her  lands  and  the  amount  of  her 
wealth  have  been  multiplied.  The  railroads  of  North  Carolina  are  more  valuable 
today  than  was  all  of  her  property  put  together  in  1876. 

FORWARD  IS  THE    ORDER 

We  cannot  repudiate  the  obligations  of  Christian  civilization.  Now  that  the 
land  is  yielding  the  bountiful  harvest,  now  that  the  stagnant  towns  of  the  last 
generation  are  growing  cities  of  increasing  wealth,  now  that  industry  is  triumphant, 


16  LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

now  that  destiny  is  unfolding  to  us  in  grander  revelation — shall  we  in  this  day  of 
strength  and  prosperity  withdraw  any  support  from  our  institutions  of  learning, 
shall  we  deny  the  efficient  administration  of  justice,  shall  we  not  hear  the  appeal 
of  the  unfortunate,  shall  it  be  written  that  to  the  Confederate  soldiers  we  give  less 
than  any  other  Southern  State,  and  for  the  education  of  our  children  we  do  less 
than  any  State  in  the  Union?  In  this  new  century,  when  Southern  ideals  are  about 
to  be  restored  to  the  Union,  when  Southern  statesmen  are  coming  again  to  the 
places  of  power,  when  the  future  beckons  with  renewed  strength  and  life,  forward 
is  the  order. 

PROPERTY   NOT   ASSESSED 

The  fault  is  that  we  do  not  assess  our  property  for  taxation.  The  land  has 
been  greatly  undervalued  and  most  of  the  personal  property  has  not  been  valued 
at  all.  It  seems  that  an  immediate  reassessment  is  necessary,  and  it  should  be  done 
before  this  General  Assembly  shall  adjourn  sine  die.  It  should  be  understood  that 
the  assessment  is  not  ordered  with  the  view  of  increasing  the  rate  of  taxation,  but 
with  the  view  of  lowering  the  rate  and  with  the  determination  of  securing  a  more 
equitable  and  more  complete  listing  of  taxable  property.  The  tax  on  inheritances 
should  be  increased  and  it  should  be  collected. 

In  my  opinion,  the  impelling  reason  for  undervaluation  and  concealment  of 
property  is  not  that  men  and  communities  desire  to  shirk  the  payment  of  their 
just  proportion  of  taxes,  nor  that  they  desire  to  take  advantage  of  other  men  and 
other  communities,  but  the  reason  is  that  they  do  not  desire  that  other  men  and 
other  communities  shall  take  the  advantage  of  them.  The  taxpayer  and  the 
assessor,  to  insure  a  square  deal  for  themselves  and  their  communities,  are  actu- 
ated by  a  common  purpose  to  undervalue  property,  and  for  this  reason  under- 
valuation and  concealment  have  come  to  be  the  established  custom. 

The  personal  property  of  the  average  man  cannot  be  concealed.  The  securities 
of  the  wealthy  can  be  concealed.     The  j^oor  pay  this  tax.     The  wealthy  escape. 

I*      SEGREGATION  OF  PROPERTY 

If  we  could  segregate  property  and  provide  that  the  property  in  each  community 
should  bear  the  governmental  expense  of  that  community,  and  that  property  of  a 
general  character  should  meet  the  requirements  of  the  State,  the  temptation  to 
depreciation  would  be  greatly  lessened  and  the  effort  to  conceal  less  successful. 
This  is  the  essence  and  the  strength  of  local  self-government ,  the  taxation  of  each 
community  by  its  own  people,  for  its  own  purpose  and  benefits.  The  unit  should 
be  no  larger  than  is  necessary  to  assure  the  advantages  of  cooperation. 

AMENDMENT   TO   CONSTITUTION 

The  application  of  this  principle  has  enabled  our  cities  and  towns  and  many 
of  our  rural  communities  to  enjoy  the  advantages  of  improvement  and  progress. 
We  must  eventually  resort  to  this  principle  of  local  self-government  for  the  highest 
development  of  local  institutions.  We  must  resort  to  this  to  obtain  the  best  roads, 
and  the  best  schools,  and  electric  lights,  and  pure  water,  and  the  opportunities  of 
modern  life.  To  realize  the  full  measure  of  the  blessing  of  this  beneficent  principle 
we  need  an  amendment  to  our  Constitution. 

The  formation  and  the  submission  to  the  people  of  such  an  amendment  would 
be  the  supreme  work  of  this  General  Assembly.     Such  an  amendment  would  be  of 


MESSAGES  TO  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY  17 

mighty  significance  in  the  life  of  the  State.  I  believe  that  it  could  be  framed  to 
result  in  her  enduring  welfare. 

In  assuming  the  office  of  Governor  I  am  deeply  conscious  of  the  solemn  respon- 
sibility. I  follow  in  the  line  of  my  able  predecessors,  whose  administrations  have 
been  blessed  with  peace  and  plenty.  There  are  difficulties  to  be  met;  as  always 
the  law  must  be  enforced  for  the  suppression  of  crime  and  for  the  maintenance  of 
order,  and  as  to  the  policies  that  vitally  concern  the  State  and  all  her  varied  inter- 
ests, sharp  differences  must  necessarily  arise  among  able  and  patriotic  men. 

I  am  profoundly  grateful  to  the  people  for  calling  me  to  the  place  where 
earnest  endeavor  is  potential  for  the  welfare  of  North  Carolina.  I  welcome  the 
opportunity.  I  do  not  shrink  from  the  labor.  I  realize  my  limitations,  and  I 
am  eager  for  the  support  and  counsel  of  my  friends,  and  of  all  good  citizens  who 
would  guide  me  in  the  straight  way  and  help  me  to  do  the  best  service. 

I  will  strive  to  prefer  uprightness  to  the  approval  of  the  mighty  or  to  the 
applause  of  the  multitude.  My  ambition  is  to  perform  this,  my  task,  with  fidelity 
and  courage ;  I  pray  for  that  wisdom  and  strength  vouchsafed  to  him  who  is  stead- 
fast in  the  resolve  to  do  right. 

On  this  day  I  dedicate  myself  to  the  service  of  all  the  people ;  and  for  them  I  do 
promise  to  administer  this  office  constant  in  the  obligation  to  do  exact  justice  to 
every  man  without  regard  to  race  or  politics,  to  class  or  condition;  sealed  with 
the  oath  that  I  have  taken,  this  with  them  is  my  covenant. 

And  may  the  Almighty  Hand  be  upon  this,  His  State,  to  order  it  and  to  uphold 
it  with  judgment  and  with  righteousness  henceforth,  even  forever. 


(2) 

OPENING  OF  THE  PANAMA  CANAL 

Kaleigh,  March  6,  1913. 
To  the  General  Assembly  of  North  Carolina; 

The  Panama  Canal  will  be  completed  during  the  present  year.  A  world  expo- 
sition celebrating  this  event  will  be  held  in  San  Francisco  in  the  year  1915.  This 
General  Assembly  must  decide  as  to  whether  North  Carolina  shall  be  represented. 

The  construction  of  the  Panama  Canal  is  the  greatest  accomplishment  of  the 
human  race  in  ancient  or  modern  times.  It  surpasses  any  of  the  monuments  of 
ancient  civilization,  and  in  magnitude  is  far  ahead  of  the  Suez  Canal,  or  any 
undertaking  by  any  of  the  countries  of  Europe  or  Asia.  This  cleaving  asunder 
of  the  two  continents  of  the  Western  Hemisphere  and  uniting  the  two  oceans  that 
bear  the  commerce  of  the  world  will  change  the  markets  of  the  world  and  the 
centers  of  the  world's  traffic.  It  will  make  the  seacoast  cities  of  the  South  the 
gateways  for  the  commerce  of  the  United  States.  It  will  be  of  untold  advantage 
to  the  South.  The  exposition  in  San  Francisco  that  will  celebrate  this  great 
accomplishment  has  been  hitherto  unequaled  in  all  the  earth.  The  countries  and 
the  republics  of  Europe  and  Asia  will  have  their  exhibits,  and  every  State  in  the 
American  Union,  in  Central  America,  and  in  South  America  will  be  represented. 
If  North  Carolina  be  represented  at  all,  she  ought  to  be  creditably  represented. 
Thousands  of  Worth  Carolinians  will  visit  this  exposition.     They  will  take  advan- 


18    LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

tage  of  the  transportation  rates  across  the  continent,  and  see  the  greatest  fair  that 
has  ever  been  held.  There  is  one  feature  of  this  celebration  that  appeals  especially 
to  Worth  Carolinians.  There  will  be  a  parade  of  all  the  navies  of  the  earth,  the 
greatest  in  all  history.  A  North  Carolina  man,  Josephus  Daniels,  Secretary  of 
the  Wavy,  will  head  that  parade  in  a  battleship  flying  the  flag  of  the  Republic. 
I  would  regret  that  North  Carolina  should  not  be  represented  at  this  great  festival, 
celebrating  as  it  will  the  greatest  event  in  the  development  of  the  South. 

I  have  visited  several  of  the  world  exhibitions,  and  to  my  regret  North  Caro- 
lina has  not  properly  shown  her  strength  and  her  resources.  On  the  4th  of  March 
I  witnessed  the  procession  celebrating  the  inauguration  of  a  Democratic  President. 
I  saw  in  this  procession  the  States  of  the  Union.  Immediately  in  front  of  North 
Carolina  were  the  States  of  Pennsylvania,  New  Jersey,  Virginia,  and  New  York ; 
each  had  thousands  of  the  National  Guard  well  equipped.  The  men  that  North 
Carolina  sent  made  a  most  creditable  showing,  but  in  numbers  they  were  conspicu- 
ously few.  There  was  a  consoling  thought  that  welled  in  the  heart  of  every  North 
Carolinian,  that  in  the  days  when  she  has  been  called  upon  for  men  of  action  and 
daring  she  has  been  weighed  in  the  balance  and  not  found  wanting;  she  has  been 
great  in  times  of  war  and  she  should  be  great  in  times  of  peace.  If  we  would  be 
worthy  of  the  heritage  of  our  fathers  we  ourselves  must  go  forward. 

In  expositions  displaying  the  industries  and  resources  of  States  and  in  great 
festivals  it  has  been  the  regret  of  North  Carolinians  that  our  State  has  been  so 
far  outstripped  by  other  States  and  countries.  We  are  not  poor  and  resourceless. 
We  should  not  advertise  to  the  world  that  we  are  poor  and  unprogressive.  The 
participation  in  the  Panama  Exposition  is  not  purely  sentimental,  but  it  will  be 
the  first  step  to  be  taken  by  the  States  of  the  Union  in  their  effort  to  secure  for 
themselves  the  benefits  that  are  to  be  derived  from  the  opening  of  the  Panama 
Canal.  All  the  States  of  the  Union  and  all  the  nations  of  the  earth  will  take 
advantage  of  this  opportunity  to  bring  to  the  attention  of  home-seekers  and 
investors  the  advantages  of  their  respective  countries. 

The  tide  of  immigration  is  now  setting  in  towards  the  South,  and  we  believe 
that  we  are  in  the  beginning  of  an  era  of  unprecedented  promise. 

I  hope  that  this  General  Assembly  can  see  its  way  clear  to  provide  representa- 
tion from  North  Carolina,  and  a  proper  representation,  at  this  great  festival  cele- 
brating, as  it  will,  the  greatest  event  in  the  development  of  the  South.  The  large 
appropriations  recently  made  for  the  improvement  of  the  harbors  at  Beaufort  and 
Wilmington  will  guarantee  that  North  Carolina  will  derive  as  much  benefit  from 
the  opening  of  this  canal  as  any  other  State  in  the  Union. 

Locke  Craig, 

Governor. 


(3) 

IN  REGARD  TO  RAISING  REVENUE 

Raleigh,  March  6,  1913. 

To  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of  North  Carolina: 

This  General  Assembly  has  already  accomplished  a  great  work.  The  welfare 
of  the  State  has  been  remembered,  and  the  people  will  support  it.  No  law  that 
has  been  enacted  will  be  more  earnestly  endorsed  than  the  law  providing  for  a  six 


MESSAGES  TO  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY  19 

months  school.  This  act  of  humanity  and  justice  creates  an  additional  demand 
upon  the  State  Treasury  of  $400,000  a  year.  Statutes  providing  for  the  conserva- 
tion of  the  general  health,  the  maintenance  of  our  institutions,  the  administration 
of  justice,  and  other  necessary  expenses  call  for  additional  appropriations  amount- 
ing to  $150,000  or  $200,000  a  year. 

We  must  provide  the  money  to  meet  these  large  but  necessary  appropriations. 
The  policy  of  blindly  appropriating  money,  when  there  is  no  money  in  the  Treasury 
and  none  in  sight,  will  not  do.  It  is  a  bankrupt  policy.  It  is  tolerable  neither  in 
public  nor  private  business.  "We  cannot  always  cover  deficits  by  bond  issues.  It 
is  admitted,  however,  that  the  money  heretofore  appropriated  has  been  honestly 
and  wisely  spent.  It  was  necessary  for  the  welfare  of  the  State,  and  the  State  has 
gotten  value  received  and  more. 

Two  methods  for  providing  for  our  increased  demands  have  been  suggested: 

1.  One  method  is  by  a  higher  tax  rate  on  the  present  assessment  of  taxable 
property. 

2.  The  other  method  is  by  a  low  tax  rate  on  a  reassessment  of  property. 
Everybody  knows  that  the  present  assessment  is  an  unjust  and  an  inequitable 

assessment.  We  know  that  the  property  that  has  been  placed  upon  the  tax  books 
has  been  assessed  at  values  that  are  ridiculously  low,  and  we  know  that  the  great 
bulk  of  the  personal  wealth  of  the  State  has  not  been  placed  upon  the  tax  books 
at  all,  and  that  it  pays  no  tax  whatever.  The  present  assessment  operates  unjustly 
against  the  average  citizen  who  pays  his  taxes ;  his  property  is  upon  the  tax  book ; 
his  farm  and  his  farm  stock  cannot  be  concealed.  The  raising  of  the  revenue  for 
the  six  months  school  alone  requires  an  additional  tax  of  from  5  to  25  cents  on 
the  $100  worth  of  property  in  all  the  counties,  towns,  and  special-tax  districts  of 
the  State.  We  know  that  many  do  not  on  the  present  assessment  pay  taxes  in 
proportion  to  their  ability,  and  the  proposition  to  place  upon  the  people  these 
additional  burdens  according  to  the  existing  inequitable  assessment  ought  not  to 
be  done  if  we  can  possibly  avoid  it.  Besides,  the  validity  of  an  act  of  thet  Legis- 
lature authorizing  a  county  to  levy  a  tax  for  general  expenses  in  excess  of  the 
constitutional  limit  of  66%  cents  on  the  $100  worth  of  property  might  be  seriously 
questioned.  A  similar  act  was  held  unconstitutional  by  the  Supreme  Court  of 
ISTorth  Carolina  in  the  case  of  Williams  v.  Commissioners,  119  !N".  C,  page  520. 

The  Constitution,  Article  V,  section  7,  provides :  "Every  act  of  the  General 
Assembly  levying  a  tax  shall  state  the  special  object  to  which  it  is  to  be  applied, 
and  it  shall  be  applied  to  no  other  purpose." 

It  might  with  plausibility  be  argued  that  if  the  General  Assembly  can  appro- 
priate 48  cents  or  50  cents  of  the  general  levy  for  general  State  purposes,  and 
authorize  the  counties  to  levy  5  cents  or  25  cents  in  excess  of  the  constitutional 
limit  for  general  expenses,  the  State  could  appropriate  66%  cents  for  general  State 
purposes  and  authorize  the  counties  to  levy  any  per  cent  that  might  seem  proper 
to  any  General  Assembly.  If  this  General  Assembly  should  provide  no  other  way 
for  the  maintenance  of  the  public  schools  except  by  the  increase  of  the  tax  rate 
beyond  the  constitutional  limit,  and  if  the  Supreme  Court,  on  the  petition  of  any 
citizen  of  this  State,  should  declare  that  this  General  Assembly  had  no  constitu- 
tional power  to  authorize  such  a  tax,  the  State  would  suffer  a  great  calamity. 

Let  us  consider  the  proposition  for  the  reassessment  of  property.  There  is 
now  $750,000,000  worth  of  property  upon  the  tax  books.  If  the  property  of  the 
State,  real  and  personal,  were  assessed  at  approximately  a  proper  value,  there  is 
no  doubt  that  we  could  easily  have  $2,000,000,000  upon  the  tax  books.     The  rate 


20  LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

of  taxation  could  be  reduced  50  per  cent.  There  is  a  reason  for  the  undervaluation 
and  concealment  of  property.  Each  landowner  knows  that  other  lands  will  be 
undervalued,  and  he  knows  that  solvent  credits  in  large  amounts  will  not  be  listed. 
On  the  other  hand,  the  owner  of  solvent  credits  knows  that  real  estate  in  and 
around  the  cities  and  towns,  yielding  large  revenues  and  increasing  in  value,  and 
that  farm  lands  will  be  greatly  undervalued;  that  his  securities  cannot  be  under- 
valued, but  if  listed  must  go  at  their  real  value.  For  this  reason  they  are  concealed 
and  escape  taxation.  When  the  present  assessment  was  made,  all  the  people  were 
aware  that  the  tax  rate  would  be  high ;  in  some  instances  almost  confiscatory.  This 
was  another  strong  temptation  for  concealment  and  undervaluation.  Such  was 
the  state  of  the  public  mind  when  we  reassessed  property  in  1911.  The  result 
was  a  great  wrong  to  the  people  who  pay  taxes  upon  their  visible  property.  These 
now  bear  the  burdens  of  government,  while  wealth  escapes. 

Let  us  remove,  as  far  as  possible,  the  causes  that  produced  this  wrong.  Let 
us  have  a  just  reassessment,  provide  machinery  that  will  work  with  courage  and 
intelligence,  and  with  the  determination  to  place  the  property  upon  the  tax  books. 
The  property  is  here ;  we  know  it.  There  is  a  vast  amount  of  wealth  in  this  State, 
amounting  to  many  millions  of  dollars,  represented  by  stocks  and  bonds  in  foreign 
corporations.  I  am  informed  that  only  one  citizen  of  this  State  pays  tax  upon 
such  securities.  Let  us  provide  for  a  just  assessment,  and  let  it  be  understood 
from  this  General  Assembly,  and  from  this  administration,  that  the  man  who 
will  suffer  will  not  be  the  man  who  comes  forward  with  his  property,  but  the 
man  who  tries  to  escape.  Let  it  be  known  that  men  must  bear  their  burdens  in 
proportion  to  their  ability.  We  can  put  $2,000,000,000  upon  the  tax  list  and  cut 
the  rate  in  two. 

Perhaps  the  most  potent  reason  for  keeping  property  off  of  our  tax  books  is 
our  high  rate  of  taxation.  If  we  reduce  this  rate  50  per  cent  in  every  county,  town, 
city,  and  special-tax  district  in  the  State,  a  great  cause  for  concealment  and 
undervaluation  will  be  removed. 

We  can  accomplish  but  little  towards  placing  the  vast  personal  wealth  of 
the  State  upon  the  tax  books  until  there  is  an  assurance  that  the  rate  will  be  low. 
We  cannot  have  a  low  rate  without  a  reassessment. 

A  just  reassessment  would  not  hurt  the  average  man  who  now  pays  his  taxes, 
but  it  would  doubtless  reduce  his  taxes.  It  would  increase  the  value  of  his  prop- 
erty, but  would  lower  the  rate  of  taxation.  The  low  rate  would  not  frighten 
property  out  of  the  State  and  into  concealment.  By  firm  and  fearless  enforce- 
ment of  the  law  it  could  be  brought  out  to  bear  its  just  part  of  the  burdens.  This 
has  been  tried  in  other  States  with  marked  success. 

We  must  raise  a  certain  amount  of  revenue.  The  question  is :  Shall  we  raise 
this  revenue  by  a  high  tax  on  a  low  assessment  of  part  of  the  property,  or  shall 
we  raise  it  by  a  low  tax  on  all  the  property,  equitably  from  the  rich  and  the 
poor  alike? 

I  would  that  the  difficulty  were  not  here;  but  to  have  the  schools  and  roads 
and  health  and  great  institutions  and  make  and  administer  laws  and  be  a  great 
State,  we  must  have  money.  Let  us  get  it  justly.  We  need  not  fear  the  people 
for  an  act  of  justice  to  all  the  people. 

The  fact  that  ever  since  the  war  our  assessments  have  been  in  periods  of  four 
years  should  not  deter  us.  The  property  of  North  Carolina  has  increased  in 
value  more  in  the  last  two  years  than  it  did  in  twenty  years  after  the  war,  and 
no  one  denies  that  the  present  assessment  is  flagrantly  wrong.     Why  tolerate  this 


MESSAGES  TO  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY  21 

wrong  for  two  years  longer?  "We  could  appeal  to  the  people  with  all  confidence 
to  sustain  an  act  of  justice.  We  could  say  to  them,  we  did  this  in  discharge 
of  the  trust  that  you  reposed  in  us,  as  wisely  as  we  could.  In  obedience  to 
your  demands,  your  multitudinous  petitions  from  Farmers'  Unions,  from  Junior 
Orders,  from  the  people  in  all  the  walks  of  life,  we  provided  for  the  education 
of  your  children,  for  the  preservation  of  your  health,  for  the  higher  education 
of  your  young  men  and  your  young  women.  We  remembered  in  mercy,  which 
is  the  highest  justice,  the  insane  and  the  deaf  and  the  dumb  and  the  blind  and 
the  sick  and  the  feeble-minded;  we  have  built  roads  into  your  community;  we 
have  taken  North  Carolina  out  of  the  list  of  the  most  ignorant  States  and  given 
her  the  rank  in  the  procession  of  the  States  that  she  occupied  in  the  days  that 
we  boast  about.  She  is  no  longer  a  pauper  State.  We  have  taken  her  from  the 
affected  rags  of  pauperism  and  shown  her  to  the  world  as  she  is — a  great  pro- 
gressive State  of  wealth  and  commerce  and  schools  and  public  roads.  We  have 
done  this  by  an  act  of  justice,  by  an  act  requiring  her  people  to  bear  the  burdens 
of  government  in  proportion  to  their  strength. 

From  a  low  rate  of  taxation,  property  will  come  here  to  engage  in  enterprise 
and  development.  This  General  Assembly  can  say  that  from  fear  we  did  not, 
like  the  servant  of  old,  hide  the  talent  in  a  napkin  and  bring  it  back  unincreased 
to  a  hard  master,  but  that  it  improved  its  trust  for  the  welfare  of  all  the  people 
and  for  the  progress  of  the  State. 

I  feel  sure  that  this  General  Assembly  will  rightly  solve  this  question  in  the 
exercise  of  its  patriotism  and  wisdom. 

Locke  Craig, 
Governor. 

(4) 
APPOINTMENTS  SUBMITTED  TO  THE  SENATE  FOR  RATIFICATION, 

MARCH  10,  1913 

To  the  Senate:  Raleigh,  March  10,  1913. 

I  have  the  honor  to  nominate  the  persons  hereinafter  named  for  the  offices 
designated,  and  by  and  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  Senate  they  will  be 
and  are  hereby  severally  and  respectively  appointed  to  the  said  offices. 

Members  of  the  Board  of  Internal  Improvements  for  the  term  of  two  years, 
ending  March  4,  1915  : 

Alexander  Webb  of  Wake  County, 

George  W.  Montcastle  of  Davidson  County. 

Directors  for  the  State  School  for  the  Blind  and  the  Deaf,  Raleigh,  for  the 
term  of  six  years,  ending  March  5,  1919 : 

J.  T.  Rowland  of  Wake  County, 
J.  Sprunt  Hill  of  Durham  County, 
C.  M.  Wilson  of  Johnston  County, 

and 
J.  T.  Alderman  of  Vance  County, 
to  fill  out  unexpired  term  ending  March  6,  1917. 


22  LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

Members  of  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the  State's  Prison  for  the  term  of  four 
years,  ending  March  15,  1917  : 

H.  B.  Varner  of  Davidson  County,  Chairman, 
~N.  E.  Edgerton  of  Johnston  County, 
Bichard  Chatham  of  Surry  County, 
Thomas  Gillam  of  Bertie  County, 

B.  H.  Buckingham  of  Cumberland  County. 

Directors  for  the  State  Hospital  at  Goldsboro  for  the  term  of  six  years,  ending 
March  12,  1919 :  w  L  Hm  of  DupHn  County; 

J.  C.  Cromartie  of  Bladen  County, 
J.  W.  Thompson  of  Wayne  County. 

Members  of  the   State  Board   of  Health  for   the  term  of   six   years,   ending 
March  7,  1919 :     Dr  Riellard  H.  Lewis  of  Wake  County, 

Dr.  Edward  Jenner  Wood  of  New  Hanover  County. 

Members   of   the   Board    of   Agriculture   for   the   term   of    six   years,    ending 
March  11,  1919 : 

From  the  First  Congressional  District — 

F.  P.  Latham  of  Beaufort  County. 
From  the  Fourth  Congressional  District — 

Clarence  Poe  of  Wake  County. 
From  the  Seventh  Congressional  District — 

C.  C.  Wright  of  Wilkes  County. 
From  the  Tenth  Congressional  District — 

A.  Cannon  of  Henderson  County. 

Directors  of  the  State  Sanatorium  for  the  Treatment  of  Tuberculosis  for  the 
term  of  eight  years,  ending  April  1,  1921 : 

Dr.  B.  H.  Lewis  of  Wake  County, 
J.  K.  Blair  of  Montgomery  County, 
Henry  A.  Page  of  Moore  County, 

and 
J.  B.  Gordon  of  Guilford  County, 
to  fill  out  the  unexpired  term  ending  April  1,  1919. 

Directors  of  the  State  Hospital  at  Morganton  for  the  term  of  six  years,  end- 
ing April  1,  1919  : 

J.  P.  Sawyer  of  Buncombe  County, 
A.  A.  Shuford  of  Catawba  County, 
A.  E.  Tate  of  Guilford  County. 

Directors  of  the  North  Carolina  School  for  the  Deaf  and  Dumb,  at  Morganton, 
for  the  term  of  six  years,  expiring  March  12,  1919 : 

J.  L.  Scott,  Jr.,  of  Alamance  County, 
W.  B.  Whitson  of  Buncombe  County, 
W.  W.  Neal  of  McDowell  County. 


MESSAGES  TO  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY  23 

Directors  of  the  State  Hospital  at  Raleigh  for  the  term  of  six  years,  expiring 
March  12,  1919 :  w  A  Erwin  of  Dllrllam  County, 

Joseph  G.  Brown  of  Wake  County, 
E.  F.  Aydlett  of  Pasquotank  County, 

and 
A.  B.  Croom,  Jr.,  of  Pender  County, 
to  fill  out  the  term  expiring  March  12,  1917;  place  of  K.  H.  Salisbury. 

Members  of  the  Geological  Board  for  the  term  of  four  years,  expiring 
March  1,  1917:  w_  H_  -Williamson  of  Wake  County, 

Henry  E.  Fries  of  Forsyth  County. 

Directors  of  the  School  of  the  Feeble-minded,  at  Kinston,  for  the  term  of  six 
years,  expiring  March  14,  1919  : 

Dr.  L.  B.  McBrayer  of  Buncombe  County, 

and 
R.  E.  Austin  of  Stanly  County,     ■ 
to  fill  the  place  that  he  occupied  prior  to  his  resignation  in  November,  1912. 

This  leaves  two  vacancies  on  this  board,  which  I  beg  leave  to  fill  after 
the  report  to  the  adjourned  session  of  this  General  Assembly  of  the  committee 
appointed  to  investigate  this  institution. 

Directors  of  the  A.  and  M.  College,  Raleigh,  for  the  term  of  eight  years, 
expiring  March  20,  1921 : 

W.  H.  Ragan  of  Guilford  County, 
Walter  E.  Daniel  of  Halifax  County, 
J.  P.  McRae  of  Scotland  County, 
W.  B.  Cooper  of  New  Hanover  County, 

and 
T.  T.  Thome  of  Nash  County, 
to  fill  out  unexpired  term  ending  March  20,  1919.  Locke  Craig, 

Governor. 


To  the  Senate:  Raleigh,  March  10,  1913. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  State  Board  of  Education  February  27,  1913,  the  follow- 
ing were  elected  members  of  the  board  of  directors  of  the  State  Normal  and 
Industrial  College,  to  succeed  themselves,  for  a  term  of  six  years  beginning 
March  1,  1914,  as  provided  by  section  4252  of  the  Revisal  of  North  Carolina: 

A.  J.  Conner  of  Northampton  County, 

J.  L.  Nelson  of  Caldwell  County, 

Joe  Rosenthal  of  Wayne  County. 

Henry  E.  Litchford  of  Wake  County  was  elected  for  the  unexpired  term  of 
R.  T.  Gray,  deceased,  and  for  the  term  of  six  years  additional  beginning  March  1, 
1"14.  Locke  Craig, 

Governor  and  President  of  the  State  Board  of  Education. 


24         LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

(5) 

COMMISSION  TO  CONSIDER  AMENDMENTS  TO  THE  CONSTITUTION 

SUBMITTED  TO  THE  SENATE  FOR  RATIFICATION, 

MARCH  11,  1913 

State  of  North  Carolina 

Executive  Department 

Raleigh 

To  the  General  Assembly  of  North  Carolina: 

In  accordance  with  the  resolution  heretofore  passed  by  the  General  Assembly 
providing  for  the  appointment  of  a  commission  to  consider  amendments  to  the 
Constitution  and  report  to  an  adjourned  or  extra  session  of  this  General  Assem- 
bly, and  in  accordance  with  the  power  conferred  upon  me  by  such  resolution  to 
appoint  five  members  of  the  said  commission,  I  do  hereby  appoint  the  following 
persons  as  members  of  the  said  commission : 

A.  M.  Scales  of  the  county  of  Guilford, 

J.  W.  Bailey  of  the  county  of  Wake, 

D.  Y.  Cooper  of  the  county  of  Vance, 

H.  Q.  Alexander  of  the  county  of  Mecklenburg, 

1ST.  J.  Rouse  of  the  county  of  Lenoir. 

This  the  11th  day  of  March,  1913.  Locke  Craig, 

Governor. 


(6) 

BIENNIAL  MESSAGE  TO  THE  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY. 
SESSION  1915 

To  the  Honorable,  the  General  Assembly  of  North  Carolina: 

The  last  two  years  has  been  an  era  of  substantial  progress.  The  energy  of 
the  State  has  been  manifest  in  her  industrial  and  social  development.  Agriculture 
has  improved.  Trade  and  manufacturing  have  increased.  The  European  "War 
has  depressed  values,  and  depressed  business,  but  already  conditions  are  improv- 
ing and  the  determination  and  intelligence  of  the  people  are  prevailing  over 
unexpected  disaster.  The  sudden  fall  in  the  price  of  cotton  resulting  from  the 
closing  of  the  markets  by  war,  and  our  unprecedented  crops,  have  caused  a  shock 
that  demoralized  business,  and  discouraged  enterprise.  The  present  crop  falls 
short  of  its  expected  value  by  millions  of  dollars.  This  calamity  has  fallen  heavy. 
It  has  brought  disaster  to  many  that  are  industrious  and  worthy.  The  President 
of  the  United  States  and  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  have  demonstrated  that 
the  administration  at  Washington  is  in  sympathy  with  the  producers  of  the 
country.  They  are  exercising  and  are  ready  to  exercise  all  the  powers  of  the 
Federal  Government  for  protection  against  untoward  disaster.     But  no  power  of 


MESSAGES  TO  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY  25 

government  can  defy  world  wide  economic  conditions,  and  any  plan  to  valorize 
cotton  or  to  compel  all  the  people  by  legislation  to  buy  this  staple  at  a  price  above 
its  market  value  is,  in  my  opinion,  unsound  morally  and  economically,  and  must 
result  in  failure  and  disappointment,  whether  attempted  by  the  Federal  Govern- 
ment or  by  the  State  Government.  "We  have  been  blessed  with  years  of  advan- 
tageous circumstances,   and  will  triumphantly  ovei'come  this   reverse. 

If  the  present  unfortunate  situation  can  demonstrate  to  our  farmers  the 
necessity  of  diversifying  crops;  of  producing  meat  and  bread  at  home,  the  present 
misfortune  will  result  to  our  permanent  good. 

Within  the  last  two  years  the  principal  differences  between  the  people  and  the 
railroads  as  to  transportation  of  merchandise  have  been  adjusted.  For  years  our 
people  suffered  from  adverse  discrimination  and  excessive  rates.  While  we  did 
not  secure  on  interstate  rates  the  reductions  to  which  we  were  entitled,  the  best 
available  adjustment  was  made.  By  this  a  saving  estimated  at  $2,000,000  a  year 
on  interstate  commerce  was  secured.  But  of  far  greater  consideration  is  the 
placing  of  our  enterprises  on  a  fairly  competitive  basis  with  the  enterprises  of 
the  State  of  Virginia.  Industries  heretofore  attracted  to  Virginia  will  remain 
with  us.  Our  towns  and  cities  feel  the  impulse  and  the  people  will  ultimately 
be  benefited. 

Charges  for  the  transportation  of  freight  within  the  State  have  been  fixed 
by  a  commission  appointed  by  the  Governor  in  accordance  with  a  statute  of  the 
last  General  Assembly.  The  railroads  have  applied  the  reduced  rates  fixed  by 
the  commission.  Intrastate  commerce  will  be  encouraged  to  the  welfare  of  all 
sections  of  the  State.  The  people  have  accepted  the  judgment  of  the  commission 
as  wise  and  just. 

A  strong  and  determined  public  sentiment  brought  about  these  adjustments. 
The  sovereignty  of  the  people  was  asserted.  They  will  deal  firmly  and  justly 
with  the  common  carriers,  and  it  is  fair  to  say  that  the  railroads  have  come  to 
recognize  the  controlling  power  of  the  people  and  have  manifested  an  earnest 
desire  to  conduct  the  transportation  business  as  public  servants  in  harmony  with 
the  people's  will,  and  the  people's  rights.  The  railroads  and  the  people  are  now 
at  peace.     But  a  firm  and  just  control  must  always  be  maintained. 

I  transmit  to  the  General  Assembly  for  careful  consideration  the  reports  of 
the  different  departments  of  government  and  institutions  of  the  State.  You  will 
see  from  these  reports  that  our  State  institutions,  educational  and  eleemosynary, 
are  performing  with  efficiency  their  respective  functions,  that  the  various  depart- 
ments of  the  State  government  have  been  administered  with  ability,  economy  and 
honesty.  As  provided  by  law,  these  departments  and  institutions  have  been 
thoroughly  audited  and  investigated  by  competent  experts,  and  in  the  honesty  of 
their  conduct  they  are  above  reproach. 

There  are  problems  of  grave  importance  that  confront  this  General  Assembly, 
and  as  commanded  by  the  Constitution,  I  submit  to  you  my  views  and  recom- 
mendations on  some  of  the  questions  that  you  will  consider. 

THE     FABM 

Our  Department  of  Agriculture  is  doing  effective  work.  The  encouragement 
to  better  farming,  the  improvement  of  rural  conditions  by  the  improvement  of 
schools,  of  roads,  of  sanitary  conditions,  by  circulating  libraries,  by  farm  demon- 
strations, by  scientific  teaching,  and  by  every  feasible  means  should  be  the  fixed 


26  LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

purpose  of  this  General  Assembly.  Eighty  per  cent  of  our  people  live  upon  the 
farms.  Their  destiny  and  the  destiny  of  the  State  and  of  all  the  people  of  the 
State  in  all  occupations  is  largely  determined  by  conditions  that  prevail  in  rural 
communities.     Thence  cometh  our  strength,  and  thence  the  crop  of  men. 

REVENUE  AND  TAXATION 

The  revenue  for  the  last  two  years  has  met  all  the  obligations  of  the  State. 
There  is  a  small  balance  in  the  treasury  above  all  demands.  This  fact  must  be 
gratifying  to  this  General  Assembly,  and  to  all  the  people,  for  it  is  the  first  time 
in  many  years  that  this  condition  has  existed.  Our  revenue  system,  however,  is 
far  from  satisfactory.  The  problem  of  taxation  is  always  difficult  and  vital.  The 
government  must  be  economically  administered.  No  extravagance  has  existed  in 
this  State,  and  none  should  be  tolerated,  but  we  must  provide  revenue  for  all 
appropriations  and  necessary  expenses.  With  the  State,  as  with  the  individual, 
the  elementary  rule  of  business  is  to  live  within  your  means.  North  Carolina 
has  ample  resources  with  which  to  meet  all  her  obligations.  Within  the  last 
decade  the  value  of  all  real  property  has  enormously  increased,  and  personal  wealth 
has  been  multiplied. 

We  cannot  repudiate  the  obligations  of  Christian  civilization.  Now  that  the 
land  is  yielding  bountiful  harvests,  now  that  the  stagnant  towns  of  the  last  genera- 
tion have  grown  into  cities  of  increasing  wealth,  now  that  industry  is  triumphant, 
now  that  destiny  is  unfolding  to  us  in  grander  revelation — shall  we,  in  this  day 
of  our  strength,  not  fulfill  the  duties  of  a  progressive  State?  We  must  support 
our  institutions  of  learning  to  increasing  usefulness.  We  should  listen  to  the 
appeal  of  the  Confederate  soldier,  and  to  those  stricken  in  mind  and  body.  We 
must  provide  for  the  improvement  of  our  rural  communities  and  for  aggressive 
work  for  the  prevention  of  disease  and  for  the  conservation  of  health.  In  this 
new  century,  when  Southern  ideals  have  been  restored  to  the  Union,  when  Southern 
statesmen  have  come  again  to  places  of  power,  when  the  future  beckons  to  renewed 
effort  and  life,  Forward  is  the  order. 

PROPERTY  NOT   ASSESSED 

The  fault  with  our  fiscal  system  is  that  we  do  not  assess  our  property  for 
taxation.  Real  estate,  and  especially  unimproved  real  estate,  and  real  estate 
held  for  speculation,  have  been  greatly  undervalued,  and  most  of  the  personal 
property  has  not  been  listed  at  all.  It  should  be  understood  that  the  quadrennial 
assessment  will  be  for  the  purpose  of  lowering  the  rate  of  taxation,  and  with  the 
determination  of  securing  a  more  equitable  and  a  more  complete  listing  of  taxable 
property.  A  graduated  tax  on  inheritances  should  be  increased  and  it  should  be 
collected. 

Our  citizens  do  not  refuse  to  return  their  property  for  taxation  because  they 
desire  to  take  advantage  of  others,  but  for  the  reason  that  they  do  not  desire  that 
other  men  and  other  communities  shall  take  advantage  of  them  and  of  their  com- 
munities. The  property  has  not  been  equally  assessed  for  taxation,  and  for  this 
reason  men  are  actuated  by  a  purpose  to  undervalue  property,  and  to  refuse  to 
list  their  solvent  credits.  They  would  be  willing  to  submit  to  a  square  deal,  but 
desire  to  protect  themselves  against  inequity. 

The  personal  property  of  the  average  man  cannot  be  concealed.  The  securi- 
ties of  the  wealthy  can  be  concealed.    The  average  citizen  pays  his  tax ;  the  wealthy 


MESSAGES  TO  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY  27 

often  escape.  The  Tax  Commission  should  be  clothed  with  plenary  powers  to 
enforce  the  listing  of  all  property  for  taxation,  and  to  enforce  the  uniform  and 
just  valuation  of  all  property.  Every  citizen  should  bear  the  burdens  of  govern- 
ment in  proportion  to  his  ability.  This  policy  should  be  carried  out  with  unalter- 
able determination. 

On  a  subject  related  to  the  finances,  I  recommend  that  the  General  Assembly 
require  the  State  Treasurer  to  give  as  his  surety  for  the  faithful  discharge  of  the 
duties  of  his  office,  a  bond  executed  by  one  or  more  surety  companies,  and  that 
this  bond  be  paid  for  by  the  State;  that  the  Treasurer  be  allowed  to  put  out  at 
interest  all  available  moneys  in  his  hands.  This  would  yield  to  the  State  an 
income  of  many  thousands  of  dollars  a  year. 

PRIMARY     ELECTIONS 

It  is  clear  that  the  people  of  the  State  demand  of  the  General  Assembly  a 
law  providing  primary  elections  for  the  nomination  of  candidates.  This  demand 
is  in  accord  with  the  spirit  of  the  age,  and  has  already  found  legal  expression  in 
all  the  States  of  the  Union  with  few  exceptions.  The  Democratic  party,  the 
Republican  party,  and  the  Progressive  party  in  State  conventions  have  each 
declared  for  such  a  law.  The  Democratic  party  in  convention  assembled  declared 
that :  "We  endorse  the  principle  of  the  legalized  state-wide  primary  for  all 
national,  State  and  judicial  officers,  and  we  pledge  the  party  to  the  enactment  of 
such  a  law  as  will  make  this  principle  applicable  to  all  political  parties." 

The  members  of  this  General  Assembly  hold  their  commissions  with  the  pledge 
to  all  the  people  for  this  reform.  This  is  democracy.  It  gives  to  the  people  the 
legalized  machinery  that  provides  the  opportunity  for  every  citizen  to  participate 
in  the  nomination  of  candidates,  and  in  the  selection  of  the  public  servants  that 
must  administer  the  government.  Political  conventions  and  party  allegiance  urge 
the  citizen  to  vote  for  the  nominee  of  his  party.  He  should  have  a  voice  in  their 
selection,  otherwise,  the  great  majority  really  have  no  voice  in  the  administration 
of  public  affairs  that  are  of  vital  interest  to  all.  The  means  should  be  provided 
for  the  full  and  free  exercise  of  this  right.  The  primary  should  be  established 
by  law,  and  protected  by  law,  and  the  criminal  law  shall  deal  firmly  with  fraud 
and  corruption.  Our  elections  must  be  pure,  and  our  nominations  must  be  by  the 
full  and  fair  expression  of  the  popular  will.  Abuses  have  sometimes  been  prac- 
ticed under  systems  not  adapted  to  present  conditions.  These  abuses  must  be 
eradicated  and  provided  against.  The  safety  of  the  State  demands  it.  The 
preservation  of  confidence  in  popular  government  demands  it.  The  obligation 
for  this  fundamental  reform  is  with  this  General  Assembly  and  with  the  party 
now  in  power. 

INSURANCE 

The  law  regulating  fire  insurance  should  be  amended.  The  rate  of  insurance 
which  the  people  of  the  State  must  pay  and  the  rules  regulating  the  insurance 
business  are  now  fixed  by  the  Southeastern  Underwriters'  Association.  This 
monopoly  controls  the  insurance  of  the  South.  There  is  no  competition.  The 
protection  from  fire  of  our  homes  and  families,  of  our  property  and  industry  is  a 
necessity.  "We  must  have  insurance,  and  we  must  take  this  insurance  under  the 
present  law,  from  a  monopoly  exercising  its  powers  unrestrained  by  law.  We 
paid  last  year  $3,733,690.17  in  premiums  to  this  monopoly.  There  was  paid  to 
the  people  of  the  State  in  compensation  for  losses  by  fire  $1,679,280.77.     We  paid 


28    LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

to  the  companies  constituting  this  monopoly  more  than  $2,000,000  in  excess  of 
the  amount  returned  for  losses.  This  $2,000,000  was  not  all  profit,  for  the  expense 
of  operating  the  business  is  considerable. 

The  last  General  Assembly  appointed  a  committee  to  investigate  the  working 
of  these  companies  as  affecting  the  people  of  North  Carolina.  This  committee 
found  that  rates  are  not  uniform,  and  in  many  instances  too  high,  and  that  the 
rules  of  insurance  are  not  equitable  and  just.  I  send  to  you  the  report  of  this 
committee.     However,  this  may  be,  this  monopoly  is  a  public  service  concern. 

The  Insurance  Department  has  been  ably  managed  and  wisely  managed  by 
the  Insurance  Commissioner.  He  needs  more  power  that  he  may  serve  the  people 
more  effectively,  and  exercise  a  control  over  this  monopoly  just  as  our  Corporation 
Commission  exercises  control  over  the  railroads  and  the  other  public  service  cor- 
porations of  the  State.  The  individual  citizen  has  not  the  power  to  deal  with  it 
on  equal  terms,  and  to  assert  his  rights.  He  must  accept  the  terms  proposed  or 
be  deprived  of  necessary  protection.  The  State  alone  can  deal  with  this  monopoly, 
and  the  State  will  be  derelict  in  her  duty  if  she  longer  allows  these  corporations 
to  fix  insurance  rates  and  to  control  without  supervision  the  insurance  business 
by  their  arbitrary  and  unlimited  power. 

The  General  Assembly  should  confer  upon  the  Insurance  Commissioner  the 
power  to  fix  maximum  rates,  and  provide  by  statute  for  reasonable  rules  and 
for  uniform  rates  on  each  class  of  property.  At  present  the  Southeastern  Under- 
writers Association,  the  representative  of  the  combined  insurance  companies  of 
the  South,  has  the  power  to  fix  the  terms  of  the  contract  between  these  companies 
and  the  people  of  the  State.  Millions  of  dollars  are  involved  in  this  contract, 
and  if  this  monopoly,  representing  foreign  corporations,  treat  the  people  of  North 
Carolina  with  justice  and  equity,  it  constitutes  the  one  exception  in  all  of  our 
business  experience.  The  people  should  have  a  voice  in  this  contract.  The  Insur- 
ance Commissioner  should  have  the  power  to  represent  them,  and  to  speak  for 
them.  Every  argument  against  State  supervision  and  control  of  insurance  has 
been  made  against  the  control  of  every  monopoly.  The  fallacy  of  all  has  been 
demonstrated  by  the  logic  of  experience. 

HIGHWAYS 

The  people  have  awakened  to  the  necessity  of  good  roads.  We  realize  that 
they  are  an  indispensable  factor  for  material  prosperity  and  for  special  advance- 
ment. We  are  building  more  highways  than  ever  before,  and  are  expending 
thereon  millions  of  dollars.  It  has  been  estimated  by  experts  that  from  thirty  to 
forty  per  cent  of  the  money  spent  on  public  roads  is,  relatively  speaking,  wasted 
or  misdirected.  President  Wilson,  at  the  recent  meeting  of  the  American  Road 
Congress  in  Atlanta,  said : 

"As  important  as  the  matter  of  providing  additional  funds  may  be  for  roads, 
even  more  important  are  the  matters  of  better  road  administration,  and  of  better 
maintenance  of  roads  already  constructed."  .  .  .  "It  is  clear,"  continued  he, 
"that  we  are  not  getting  the  results  we  should  have." 

This  General  Assembly  should  establish  a  Highway  Commission  composed  of 
experts,  or  of  men  who  would  make  a  study  of  this  improvement.  They  should 
direct  the  expenditure  of  all  road  money,  and  they  should  see  that  maintenance 
gets  as  much  attention  as  construction. 


MESSAGES  TO  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY  29 


FORESTS 

The  General  Assembly  should  provide  for  the  protection  of  our  forests  against 
ravages  by  fire  and  commercialism.  The  forests  provide  the  rains  that  water 
the  crops.  They  supply  and  conserve  the  streams  that  turn  the  wheels  of  industry. 
The  failure  to  save  from  ruthless  destruction  our  magnificent  wooded  areas  will 
work  an  irreparable  damage  to  ourselves  and  to  our  posterity. '  The  lumberman 
is  now  denuding  the  mountains — mowing  down  their  luxuriant  covering,  as  the 
reaper  mows  a  field  of  wheat.  After  him  sweeps  the  conflagration,  turning  the 
once  magnificent  slopes  and  peaks  into  vast  desolation  of  blackened  ruin.  We 
cannot  expect  the  lumberman  to  sacrifice  his  individual  interest  to  the  public 
welfare.  The  State  must  exercise  her  power  by  proper  regulation  to  save  the 
forests  and  thereby  preserve  to  the  State  this  priceless  heritage. 

state's  prison 

The  State's  Prison  has  been  managed  with  economy,  honesty  and  business 
efficiency.  The  report  of  the  Superintendent  transmitted  to  the  General  Assembly 
shows  the  condition  of  the  Prison  and  the  operations  in  which  the  Prison  has 
been  engaged.  It  shows  a  balance  to  the  Prison's  credit  above  the  cost  of  mainte- 
nance. And  in  this  account  the  convicts  of  the  State  have  done  much  work  on 
the  Hickory  N"ut  Gap  Road  and  on  the  road  in  Madison  County  for  which  the 
Prison  has  no  credit. 

Some  years  ago  the  State  gave  assistance  by  convict  labor  to  certain  railroad 
companies  to  enable  them  to  construct  railroads  to  remote  and  difficult  places 
not  provided  with  railway  transportation.  These  convicts  could  have  been  hired 
to  do  work  of  the  same  kind  at  the  rate  of  $1.50  or  $1.75  a  day  each.  The  appro- 
priation of  convicts  was  the  equivalent  to  the  appropriation  of  money  out  of  the 
State  treasury.  As  direct  compensation  for  the  labor  of  the  prisoners,  the  State 
has  accepted,  in  accordance  with  legislative  enactment,  stock  in  railroad  com- 
panies that  has  no  market  value.  The  State  has  appropriated  a  value  in  these 
convicts  to  these  railroad  companies,  realizing  that  the  stock  taken  in  payment 
is  probably  worthless.  The  real  compensation  to  the  State  is  to  develop  rich  and 
inaccessible  sections  inhabited  by  a  portion  of  our  citizenship  desiring  and  deserv- 
ing the  facilities  of  communication  and  transportation  with  other  portions  of  the 
State.     In  this  way  the  State  has  appropriated  as  evidenced  by  stock: 

To  the  Elkin  and  Alleghany  Eailway  Company $193,500.00 

To  the  "Watauga   and  Yadkin   River  Railway   Company 18,000.00 

To  the  Statesville  Air  Line  Railway  Company 58,800.00 

To  the  Mattamuskeet    Railway    Company    99,765.00 

To  the  Transcontinental  Air  Line  Railway   Company 17,200.00 

Making  a  total  of $387,265.00 

And  in  addition  to  the  above  amounts  $21,564.59,  for  which  stock  has  not  yet 
been  received,  making  in  all  $408,829.59. 

These  convicts  have  been  appropriated  under  statutes  vesting  the  power  and 
discretion  in  the  Governor  and  the  Council  of  State,  to  decide  when  such  convicts 
should  be  appropriated.     All  of  these  statutes  should  be  amended  so  as  to  clothe 


30    LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

the  board  of  directors  of  the  State's  Prison  with  this  power  and  discretion.  This 
power  does  not  legitimately  belong  to  the  Governor  and  the  Council  of  State.  It 
does  legitimately  belong  to  the  Prison  Board.  The  Governor  and  the  Council  of 
State  cannot  in  the  very  nature  of  the  situation  exercise  the  power  with  a  thor- 
ough knowledge  of  the  affairs  of  the  Prison  and  a  comprehensive  view  of  its 
necessities  and  operations.  The  Prison  Board  should  have  entire  charge  of  the 
Prison,  and  all  convicts  committed  to  the  Prison.  The  statutes  in  their  present 
form  impose  incongruous  duties  upon  the  Governor  and  Council  of  State.  This 
is  no  longer  desirable  or  advisable,  but  is  au  unwarranted  interference  with  the 
Prison  Board  in  its  management  of  the  Prison. 

PUBLIC    HEALTH 

The  State  Board  of  Health  has  efficiently  performed  a  beneficent  work.  By 
its  agency  sanitary  conditions  are  improving.  This  department  should  be  pro- 
vided with  means  to  continue  with  increasing  effectiveness  this  most  essential 
work  for  the  preservation  of  life  and  for  the  health  and  happiness  of  all  the 
people. 

TUBERCULOSIS 

The  problem  of  dealing  with  tuberculosis  is  most  serious.  In  North  Carolina 
it  has  been  ascertained  that  eighteen  thousand  persons  are  the  victims  of  this 
disease.  Many  may  have  it  of  whom  we  do  not  know.  It  is  an  ever-present 
plague  that  stalks  abroad  at  noon-day,  and  one-seventh  of  all  the  deaths  in  the 
State  are  from  this  dreaded  disease.  The  Sanatorium  at  Montrose  was  estab- 
lished in  response  to  the  demand  that  something  must  be  done  for  the  afflicted, 
and  to  stop  the  ravages  of  the  plague.  In  my  opinion  this  institution  with  its 
present  scope  and  efficiency  is  utterly  incapable  of  dealing  effectively  with  the 
situation.  As  an  institution  for  the  purpose  of  educating  people  to  care  for  them- 
selves, and  disseminate  knowledge  of  the  disease,  it  cannot  be  as  effective  as  could 
a  bureau  established  for  the  purpose  of  sending  literature  to  every  person  in  the 
State  known  to  be  afflicted.  Such  literature  could  present  the  situation  more 
intelligently  to  the  people,  and  with  more  efficacy  than  could  be  done  by  a  few 
patients  who  are  fortunate  enough  to  secure  admission  to  the  small  establishment 
at  Montrose.  There  are  now  about  ninety  patients  in  this  institution.  It  is  most 
humanely  and  most  ably  managed.  Yet,  it  is  altogether  inadequate  to  deal  with 
this  stupendous  proposition  that  so  vitally  affects  the  people.  It  has  done  good  in 
individual  instances,  but  there  are  thousands  in  the  State  who  cannot  gain  admit- 
tance, and  who  will  desire  admittance  when  its  efficiency  is  recognized.  This 
institution  can  never  care  for  those  entitled  to  admission.  On  the  present  plan 
the  whole  revenue  of  the  State  could  not  meet  the  demand.  It  is  one  of  the  high- 
est obligations  of  the  State  to  deal  with  this  disease,  to  do  all  possible  to  prevent 
it,  and  to  cure  those  who  have  it.  I  hope  that  this  General  Assembly  can  work 
out  a  practical  method  that  will  be  effective. 

the  state's  institutions 

I  am  satisfied  that  it  would  be  economy,  and  good  business,  that  all  the  institu- 
tions of  the  State,  with  the  exception  of  the  State's  Prison,  should  be  put  under 
the  management  of  one  board  of  not  more  than  five  members.  This  board  should 
have  charge  of  and  direct  supervision  of  the  business  management  of  these  institu- 


MESSAGES  TO  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY  31 

tions.  I  am  satisfied  that  such  a  system  would  save  to  the  State  thousands  of 
dollars  every  year.  But,  if  the  General  Assembly  should  not  see  proper  to  adopt 
this  view,  I  recommend  that  the  General  Assembly  shall  direct  that  the  Governor 
require  that  each  State  institution  shall  make  to  him  in  such  form  and  detail  as 
he  may  prescribe,  a  monthly  or  weekly  report,  as  to  their  business  management 
and  condition.  This  would  give  the  Governor  at  all  times  a  clear  insight  into  the 
workings  of  our  institutions,  and  accomplish  much  in  the  way  of  economy  and 
uniform  business. 

CHILD  LABOR 

The  last  General  Assembly  enacted  a  statute  compelling  the  attendance  of 
children  upon  the  public  schools.  This  statute  should  be  enforced.  The  child 
cannot  work  at  manual  labor  to  advantage,  but  his  mind  is  eager  for  knowledge 
and  most  retentive.  His  character  is  responsive  to  culture.  The  factory  is  no 
place  for  the  child.  The  drudgery  of  toil  is  not  his  rightful  inheritance,  before 
his  bones  are  hard,  or  his  muscles  are  firm.  If  we  grind  the  seed  corn  there  will 
be  a  failure  in  the  crop  of  men.  "We  should  have  upon  our  statute  books  a  law 
forbidding  children  of  tender  years  to  work  in  mills  or  factories,  and  limiting 
the  hours  of  labor  of  those  who  are  of  sufficient  age  to  work.  This  law  should 
provide  that  women  shall  not  work  at  night  in  the  mills.  Motherhood  should  not 
be  condemned  to  such  service.  And  this  law  should  be  vitalized  with  safeguards 
for  its  enforcement.  If,  in  our  most  progressive  centers  of  industry  and  thrift, 
the  family  cannot  live  without  the  work  of  children  and  the  drudgery  of  women, 
then  our  civilization  has  broken  down,  and  is  a  failure. 

I  commend  the  mill  men  of  North  Carolina  for  the  humane  spirit  with  which 
they  have  cared  for  the  health  and  education  of  their  employees,  and  the  children 
of  their  employees. 

WESTERN    TRAINING   SCHOOL 

The  General  Assembly  should  earnestly  consider  the  establishing  of  additional 
training  schools  for  teachers  for  the  western  part  of  the  State.  We  are  paying 
out  large  sums  to  teachers  who,  by  reason  of  circumstances  and  lack  of  convenient 
schools  of  proper  character  and  facilities,  have  not  been  able  to  equip  themselves 
efficiently  for  their  work.  Salaries  paid  for  inefficient  teachers  must  result  in  a 
more  serious  loss  to  the  State  than  salaries  paid  for  inefficient  work  in  any  other 
business  or  profession.  We  must  create  facilities  which  are  convenient  and  within 
the  reach  of  those  who  must  teach  the  children  of  the  State.  A  splendid  and  well 
equipped  school  has  been  established  in  the  east.  For  a  number  of  terms  the 
Legislature  has  considered  a  school  for  the  western  section  similar  to  that  estab- 
lished at  Greenville.  The  west  desires  this  school  located  at  some  convenient 
point  within  reach  of  many  counties  not  yet  provided  for.  Many  superintendents 
have  brought  to  my  attention  the  absolute  need  of  such  a  school.  I  earnestly 
recommend  that  a  school  similar  to  the  school  at  Greenville  be  established  at  some 
point  in  the  western  part  of  the  State,  located  to  serve  the  people  of  that  locality. 
It  would  result  in  inestimable  benefit  to  the  people  and  stimulate  our  intellectual 
as  well  as  material  development. 

ADMINISTRATIVE    OFFICERS     SHOULD    BE     APPOINTED    BY    THE    GOVERNOR 

If,  in  obedience  to  the  expressed  wishes  of  all  political  parties  we  provide 
primary  elections  for  the  nomination  of  State  and  Federal  officers,  it  would  be 


32  LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

difficult,  if  not  impossible  for  the  people  to  exercise  an  intelligent  choice  in  the 
nomination  of  administrative  officials.  The  people  can,  and  do,  center  their 
view  upon  those  who  would  stand  at  the  head  of  the  government.  The  whole 
trend  of  thought  of  the  age  is  for  the  short  ballot,  for  the  direct  responsibility  to 
the  people  of  those  whom  they  can  know  and  can  intelligently  select.  If  this 
General  Assembly  should  clothe  the  Governor  with  the  power  to  appoint  all  of 
the  administrative  officials  of  the  State,  except  those  named  in  the  Constitution, 
it  would  accomplish  a  reform  of  immense  benefit.  President  Wilson  once  said : 
"Put  all  your  eggs  in  one  basket  and  watch  that  basket."  The  Governor  to  a 
large  extent  is  held  responsible  for  the  affairs  of  his  administration.  Give  him 
the  power  to  select  the  men  that  shall  direct  those  affairs.  Hold  him  responsible, 
and  he  will  be  responsive  to  the  people's  will.  The  terms  of  the  present  incum- 
bents of  these  positions  would  of  course  not  be  affected.  They  are  all  able  and 
faithful  public  servants.  Their  appointment  by  the  Governor  would  unify  the 
administration  and  increase  the  efficiency  of  the  government. 

You  come  as  the  representatives  of  the  people  to  write  the  statutes  of  a  State 
pressing  forward  to  nobler  achievements.  We  look  to  you  for  the  policies  that 
will  direct  us  in  the  way  of  substantial  progress  and  encourage  to  renewed  energy. 
You  will  perform  your  task  with  fidelity  and  courage,  and  may  you  be  guided 
by  the  wisdom  and  sustained  by  the  strength  vouchsafed  to  all  who  are  steadfast 

in  the  resolve  to  do  right.  T  „ 

Locke  Craig, 

Governor  of  North  Carolina. 

January  7,  1915. 


(7) 

LIST  OF  EMPLOYEES,  GOVERNOR'S  OFFICE,  WITH  THEIR  SALARIES, 

JANUARY  8,  1915 

To  the  Honorable,  The  General  Assembly  of  North  Carolina: 

In  compliance  with  section  4409  of  the  Revisal  of  1905,  I  herewith  transmit 
to  you  a  list  of  the  employees  of  this  office,  together  with  their  respective  salaries 
per  annum: 

Governor $5,000 

Private  Secretary   2,000 

Executive  Secretary   1,100 

Clerk   '. 900 

Messenger 546 

Locke  Ceaig, 
January  8,  1915.  Governor. 


MESSAGES  TO  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY  33 

(8) 

APPROPRIATION  BY  FEDERAL  GOVERNMENT  FOR  CO-OPERATIVE 
AGRICULTURAL  EXTENSION  WORK 

January,  1915. 
The  Honorable,  The  General  Assembly  of  North  Carolina: 
I  herewith  send — 

1.  A  copy  of  a  letter  from  D.  F.  Houston,  Secretary  of  Agriculture,  dated 
January  11,  1915; 

2.  Copy  of  suggested  form  of  legislation  for  giving  the  State's  assent  to  the  act 
of  Congress  of  May  8,  1914; 

3.  "Weekly  News  Letter  to  Crop  Correspondents,  dated  June  3,  1914; 

4.  A  copy  of  the  Agricultural  Extension  of  May  8,  1914. 

These  documents  relate  to  the  appropriation  made  by  the  Federal  Government 
for  cooperative  agricultural  extension  work.  In  order  that  the  State  of  North 
Carolina  may  participate  in  this  appropriation,  it  is  necessary  that  the  General 
Assembly  give  assent  to  the  terms  of  the  extension  act  of  Congress  of  May  8th,  all 
of  which  will  fully  appear  in  the  papers  hereto  attached. 

Locke  Ckaig, 
Governor. 

Department  of  Agriculture, 
Hon.  Locke  Craig,  Washington,  January  11,  1915. 

Governor  of  North  Carolina, 

Raleigh,  North  Carolina. 
Sir: — I  have  the  honor  to  bring  to  your  attention  a  provision  in  the  Agri- 
cultural Extension  Act  of  Congress  of  May  8,  1914,  requiring  that  in  the  case 
of  each  State,  the  Legislature  give  assent  to  its  terms.  This  is  necessary, 
even  though  the  Governor  of  the  State  may  previously  have  given  his  assent, 
pending  legislative  action,  in  accordance  with  section  3  of  the  act. 

This  act,  in  addition  to  making  a  permanent  annual  appropriation  of 
$10,000  to  each  State  accepting  its  provisions,  further  appropriates,  begin- 
ning with  the  fiscal  year  1915-16,  additional  sums  for  succeeding  years,  to  be 
apportioned  among  the  States  on  the  basis  of  their  rural  population.  These 
further  appropriations  are  to  be  duplicated  by  the  States,  as  set  forth  in  the 
following  provision: 

"That  no  payment  out  of  the  additional  appropriations   herein 
provided  shall  be  made  in  any  year  to  any  State  until  an  equal  sum 
has   been   appropriated   for  that  year   by   the  Legislature    of   such 
State,  or  provided  by  State,  county,  college,  local  authority,  or  indi- 
vidual contributions  from  within  the  State,  for  the  maintenance  of 
the   cooperative   agricultural   extension   work   provided   for   in   this 
act." 
I  would  therefore  respectfully  call  your  attention  to  the  fact  that  pro- 
vision should  be  made  for  funds  from  sources  within  the  State  to  offset  the 
additional  Federal  appropriations  under  this  act,  due  beginning  July  1,  1915, 
if  the  State  is  to  receive  the  full  benefits  of  the  act. 

For  your  information,  I  am  enclosing  (1)  copy  of  the  Agricultural  Exten- 
sion Act  of  May  8,  1914,    (2)   suggested  form  of  legislation  for  giving  the 


34         LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

State's  assent  to  this  act,  and  (3)  copy  of  the  Weekly  News  Lett'er  of  this 
Department  of  June  3,  1914,  which  shows  the  amount  North  Carolina  may 
receive  under  this  act. 

For  detailed  information  regarding  the  requirements  of  this  work  in 
your  State,  I  would  suggest  that  you  confer  with  the  president  of  your  State 
Agricultural  College  receiving  the  benefits  of  this  act. 

Respectfully,  (Signed)         D.    F.   Houston, 

(Inclosures)  Secretary. 

SUGGESTED  FORM  OF  LEGISLATION  FOR  GIVING  THE   STATE'S 
ASSENT  TO  THE  ACT  OF  CONGRESS  OF  MAY  8,  1914. 

Whereas  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  has  passed  an  act  approved 
by  the  President,  May  8,  1914,  entitled  "An  act  to  provide  for  cooperative 
Agricultural  Extension  Work  between  the  Agricultural  Colleges  in  the 
several  States  receiving  the  benefits  of  the  act  of  Congress  approved  July  2, 
1862,  and  of  acts  supplementary  thereto,  and  the  United  States  Department 
of  Agriculture";  and 

Whereas  it  is  provided  in  section  3  of  the  act  aforesaid  that  the  grants  of 
money  authorized  by  this  act  shall  be  paid  annually  "to  each  State  which 
shall  by  action  of  its  Legislature  assent  to  the  provisions  of  this  act":  There- 
fore, be  it 

Resolved  by  (both  houses  of  the  Legislature),  That  the  assent  of  the 
Legislature  of  the  State  of  North  Carolina  be  and  is  hereby  given  to  the  pro- 
visions and  requirements  of  said  act,  and  that  the  trustees  of  the  North 
Carolina  College  of  Agriculture  and  Mechanic  Arts  be  and  they  are  hereby 
authorized  and  empowered  to  receive  the  grants  of  money  appropriated 
under  said  act,  and  to  organize  and  conduct  agricultural  extension  work 
which  shall  be  carried  on  in  connection  with  the  North  Carolina  College  of 
Agriculture  and  Mechanic  Arts,  in  accordance  with  the  terms  and  conditions 
expressed  in  the  act  of  Congress  aforesaid. 

[From  Weekly  News  Letter  to  Crop  Correspondents,  United  States  Department 
of  Agriculture,  June  3,  1914] 

MAXIMUM  AMOUNTS   THE   STATES  CAN  RECEIVE  UNDER  THE 

SMITH-LEVER  COOPERATIVE  AGRICULTURAL 

EXTENSION  ACT. 

The  appended  table  shows  the  maximum  amounts  which  the  several 
States  will  be  eligible  to  receive  under  H.  R.  7951  (the  Smith-Lever  Act), 
which  provides  for  cooperative  agricultural  extension  work  between  the 
States  and  the  United  States  Department  of  Agriculture. 

As  the  table  shows,  the  act  makes  available  for  the  next  nine  fiscal  years 
an  aggregate  sum  of  $23,120,000  of  Federal  funds  to  be  expended  in  instruc- 
tion and  practical  demonstrations  in  agriculture  and  home  economics.  To 
obtain  this  total  the  States  must  appropriate  for  like  purposes  a  total  of 
$18,800,000,  making  a  grand  total  of  $41,920,000  to  be  expended  during  the 
next  nine  fiscal  years  on  direct  agricultural  extension  work.  Thereafter  the 
Federal  Government  is  to  appropriate  $4,580,000  annually,  and  the  States,  to 
take  their  full  quota,  must  appropriate  $4,100,000  annually,  making  a  total 
annual  expenditure  for  this  purpose  of  $8,680,000. 

The  purposes  to  which  the  Federal  funds  are  to  be  applied  are  defined  by 
the  act  as  follows: 

That  cooperative  agricultural  extension  work  shall  consist  of  the 
giving  of  instruction   and   practical   demonstrations   in   agriculture 


MESSAGES  TO  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY 


35 


and  home  economics  to  persons  not  attending  or  resident  in  said 
colleges  in  the  several  communities,  and  imparting  to  such  persons 
information  on  said  subjects  through  field  demonstrations,  publi- 
cations, and  otherwise;  and  this  work  shall  be  carried  on  in  such 
manner  as  may  be  mutually  agreed  upon  by  the  Secretary  of  Agri- 
culture and  the  State  agricultural  college  or  colleges  receiving  the 
benefits  of  this  act. 

None  of  this  money  may  be  applied  to  the  purchase,  erection,  and  repair 
of  any  building,  or  the  purchase  and  rental  of  land,  or  any  college  course 
teaching  or  lectures  in  colleges,  promoting  agricultural  trains,  etc.  Not 
more  than  5  per  cent  of  each  annual  appropriation  may  be  used  in  printing 
or  the  distribution  of  publications;  so  that  at  least  95  per  cent  must  be 
expended  in  direct  extension  activities. 


Table  showing  maximum,  amounts  of  Federal  funds  which  the  States  would 
be  eligible  to  receive  under  S.  R.  7951,  which  provides  for  cooperative 
agricultural  extension  work. 

(Each  State  must  duplicate  all  Federal  money  above  $10,000  a  year.] 

(EXPLANATION  OF  APPROPRIATIONS.)— The  act  first  appropriates  $480,000  annually,  be- 
ginning with  1914-15,  and  gives  each  State  $10,000  for  each  fiscal  year  as  a  basic  fund. 

The  act  then  appropriates  additional  Federal  moneys  to  be  distributed  in  the  proportion  of  rural 
population.  To  share  in  these  additional  funds  the  State  must  duplicate  the  additional  Federal  money 
thus  received.  The  additional  appropriations  are  as  follows:  1915-16,  S600.000;  1916-17,  $1,100,000; 
1917-18,  $1,600,000;  1918-19,  $2,100,000;  1919-20,  $2,600,000;  1920-21,  $3,100,000;  1921-22,  $3,600,000;  1922-23 
and  thereafter,  $4,100,000. 

It  will  be  noticed  that  after  1915-16  the  total  appropriation  is  increased  each  year  by  $500,000.  The 
fifth  column  in  the  table  shows  the  amount  of  each  additional  $500,000  that  the  State  is  entitled  to 
receive.  To  get  the  amount  that  any  State  is  entitled  to  receive  for  any  fiscal  year  from  1917  to  1922, 
add  the  amount  given  in  the  table  to  the  total  for  the  immediately  preceding  year.  Example:  Ala- 
bama, in  1917-18  will  receive  $49,404  plus  $17,911=$67,315;  for  1918-19  Alabama  will  receive  $67,315 
plus  $17,911=S85,226;  and  so  on  until  the  maximum  given  under  the  column  1922-23  is  reached. 

The  totals  for  each  State  contain  the  basic  $10,000  granted  each  year.  To  obtain  the  amount  that 
the  State  would  have  to  duplicate  in  any  year  to  receive  its  entire  Federal  quota,  subtract  $10,000 
from  the  total.  Example:  The  amount  Alabama  would  have  to  duplicate  in  1917-18  is  $67,315  minus 
$10,000,  or  $57,315. 


1917-18 

1918-19 

1922-23, 

Fiscal  year  19: 

1915-16 

1916-17 

1919-20* 

and  there- 

1920-21 

after 

1921-22 

For  the 

above 

Per  cent 

fiscal 

State 

that  rural 

Maxi- 

Maxi- 

years, 

popula- 

Amount 

mum 

mum 

add  each 

For  fiscal 

tion  of 

each 

amount 

amount 

year  the 

year 

State 

State 

each 

each 

amount 

1922-23 

bears  to 

will 

State  is 

State  is 

given  be- 

and there- 

total rural 

receive 

entitled 

entitled 

low  to  the 

after 

popula- 

to receive 

to  receive 

total  for 

tion* 

the  imme- 
diately 
preced- 
ing year 

Alabama—  _  __  _ 

3.58 

$10,000 

$31,493 

$49,404 

$17,911 

$156,870 

Arizona ._     __ 

.29 

2.78 

10,000 
10,000 

11,717 
26,680 

13,147 
40,580 

1,431 
13,900 

21,730 

Arkansas ..     

123,980 

California -     

1.84 

10,000 

21,039 

30,236 

9,198 

85,424 

Colorado.    _  . 

.80 

10,000 

14,795 

18,789 

3,995 

42,759 

Connecticut 

.232 

10,000 

11,398 

12,563 

1,165 

19,554 

Delaware .      .  . 

.213 

10,000 

11,281 

12,347 

1,067 

18,749 

Florida 

1.08 

10,000 

16,491 

21,898 

5,408 

54,345 

36 


LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVE RAW R  LOCKE  CRAIG 


Fiscal  year  1914-15 

1915-16 

1916-17 

1917-18 
1918-19 
1919-20* 
1920-21 
1921-22 

1922-23, 
and  there- 
after 

State 

Per  cent 
that  rural 
popula- 
tion of 
State 
bears  to 
total  rural 
popula- 
tion* 

Amount 

each 

State 

will 

receive 

Maxi- 
mum 
amount 

each 

State  is 

entitled 

to  receive 

Maxi- 
mum 
amount 

each 

State  is 

entitled 

to  receive 

For  the 
above 
fiscal 
years, 
add  each 
year  the 
amount 
given  be- 
low to  the 
total  for 
the  imme- 
diately 
preced- 
ing year 

For  fiscal 
year 
1922-23 
and  there- 
after 

4.19 

.52 
4.38 
3.16 
3.13 
2.43 
3.51 
2.35 

.731 
1.29 

.49 
3.00 
2.48 
3.22 
3.84 

.491 
1.79 

.14 

.36 
1.28 

.57 
3.90 
3.82 
1.04 
4.26 
2.71 

.741 
6.15 

.04 
2.61 
1.03 
3.53 
5.99 

.41 

.38 
3.21 
1.09 
2.01 
2.69 

.21 

510,000 
10,000 
10,000 
10,000 
10,000 
10,000 
10,000 
10,000 
10,000 
10,000 
10,000 
10,000 
10,000 
10,000 
10,000 
10,000 
10,000 
10,000 
10,000 
10,000 
10,000 
10,000 
10,000 
10,000 
10,000 
10,000 
10,000 
10,000 
10,000 
10,000 
10,000 
10,000 
10,000 
10,000 
10,000 
10,000 
10,000 
10,000 
10,000 
10,000 

S35.174 
13,110 
36,282 
28,943 
28,794 
24,556 
31,088 
24,094 
14,389 
17,748 
12,922 
28,002 
24.S99 
29,330 
33,036 
12,952 
20,728 
10,834 
12,133 
17,660 
13,414 
33,443 
32,953 
16,236 
35,557 
26,256 
14,442 
46,893 
10,220 
25,691 
16,167 
31,202 
45,970 
12,438 
12,275 
29,267 
16,523 
22,071 
26,164 
11,250 

556,151 
15,702 
58,184 
44,729 
44,456 
36,686 
48,660 
35,839 
18,047 
24,203 
15,374 
43,005 
37,315 
45,438 
52,232 
15,412 
29,668 
11,529 
13,909 
24,043 
16,259 
52,979 
52,081 
21,431 
56,855 
39,802 
18,144 
77,637 
10,402 
38,768 
21,308 
48,870 
75,945 
14,468 
14,170 
45,323 
21,958 
32,130 
39,634 
12,290 

820,978 

2,592 

21,902 

15,786 

15,662 

12,130 

17,573 

11,745 

3,657 

6,456 

2,443 

15,002 

12,416 

16,108 

19,196 

2,460 

8,940 

695 

1,777 

6,383 

2,845 

19,536 

19,127 

5,196 

21,297 

13,547 

3,701 

30,744 

183 

13,076 

5,140 

17,668 

29,975 

2,031 

1,896 

16,056 

5,436 

10,059 

13,470 

1,041 

3182,020 

31,254 

189,596 

139,442 

138,428 

109,466 

154,103 

106,309 

39,991 

62,936 

30,029 

133,016 

111,811 

142,086 

167,411 

30,172 

83,308 

15,699 

24,572 

62,341 

33,329 

170,195 

166,846 

52,607 

Ohio 

184,640 

121,081 

40,352 

262,101 

11,497 

117,223 

52,148 

154,878 

255,795 

Utah -- 

26,655 

25,543 

141,659 

54,571 

92,484 

120,454 

18,541 

99.988 

8480,000 

51,080,000 

SI, 580, 000 

3500,000 

84,580,000 

*Figures  after  1920  subject  to  returns  of  fourteenth  census  on  rural  population. 


MESSAGES  TO  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY  37 

[Public— No.  95 — 63d  Congress] 

[H.  E.  7951] 

An  act  to  provide  for  cooperative  agricultural  extension  work  between 
the  agricultural  colleges  in  the  several  States  receiving  the  benefits) 
of  an  act  of  Congress  approved  July  2,  1862,  and  of  acts  supplement- 
ary thereto,  and  the  United  States  Department  of  Agriculture. 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the  United 
States  of  America  in  Congress  assembled,  That  in  order  to  aid  in  diffusing 
among  the  people  of  the  United  States  useful  and  practical  information  on 
subjects  relating  to  agriculture  and  home  economics,  and  to  encourage  the 
application  of  the  same,  there  may  be  inaugurated  in  connection  with  the 
college  or  colleges  in  each  State  now  receiving,  or  which  may  hereafter 
receive,  the  benefits  of  the  act  of  Congress  approved  July  2,  1862,  entitled 
"An  act  donating  public  lands  to  the  several  States  and  Territories  which 
may  provide  colleges  for  the  benefit  of  agriculture  and  the  mechanic  arts" 
(Twelfth  Statutes  at  Large,  page  503),  and  of  the  act  of  Congress  approved 
August  30,  1890,  (Twenty-sixth  Statutes  at  Large,  page  417  and  chapter  841), 
agricultural  extension  work  which  shall  be  carried  on  in  cooperation  with 
the  United  States  Department  of  Agriculture:  Provided,  that  in  any  State 
in  which  two  or  more  such  colleges  have  been  or  hereafter  may  be  estab- 
lished the  appropriations  hereinafter  made  to  such  State  shall  be  adminis- 
tered by  such  college  or  colleges  as  the  Legislature  of  such  State  may  direct: 
Provided  further,  that,  pending  the  inauguration  and  development  of  the 
cooperative  extension  work  herein  authorized,  nothing  in  this  act  shall  be 
construed  to  discontinue  either  the  farm  management  work  or  the  farmers' 
cooperative  demonstration  work  as  now  conducted  by  the  Bureau  of  Plant 
Industry  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture. 

Sec.  2.  That  cooperative  agricultural  extension  work  shall  consist  of  the 
giving  of  instruction  and  practical  demonstrations  in  agriculture  and  home 
economics  to  persons  not  attending  or  resident  in  said  colleges  in  the  several 
communities,  and  imparting  to  such  persons  information  on  said  subjects 
through  field  demonstrations,  publications,  and  otherwise;  and  this  work 
shall  be  carried  on  in  such  manner  as  may  be  mutually  agreed  upon  by  the 
Secretary  of  Agriculture  and  the  State  agricultural  college  or  colleges  receiv- 
ing the  benefits  of  this  act. 

Sec.  3.  That  for  the  purpose  of  paying  the  expenses  of  said  cooperative 
agricultural  extension  work  and  the  necessary  printing  and  distributing  of 
information  in  connection  with  the  same,  there  is  permanently  appropriated, 
out  of  any  money  in  the  Treasury  not  otherwise  appropriated,  the  sum  of 
$480,000  for  each  year,  $10,000  of  which  shall  be  paid  annually,  in  the  man- 
ner hereinafter  provided,  to  each  State  which  shall  by  action  of  its  Legisla- 
ture assent  to  the  provisions  of  this  act:  Provided,  that  payment  of  such 
installments  of  the  appropriation  hereinbefore  made  as  shall  become  due  to 
any  State  before  the  adjournment  of  the  regular  session  of  the  Legislature 
meeting  next  after  the  passage  of  this  act  may,  in  the  absence  of  prior  legis- 
lative assent,  be  made  upon  the  assent  of  the  Governor  thereof,  duly  certi- 
fied to  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury:  Provided  further,  that  there  is  also 
appropriated  an  additional  sum  of  $600,000  for  the  fiscal  year  following  that 
in  which  the  foregoing  appropriation  first  becomes  available,  and  for  each 
year  thereafter  for  seven  years  a  sum  exceeding  by  $500,000  the  sum  appro- 
priated for  each  preceding  year,  and  for  each  year  thereafter  there  is  per- 
manently appropriated  for  each  year  the  sum  of  $4,100,000  in  addition  to  the 
sum  of  $480,000  hereinbefore  provided:    Provided  further,   that  before   the 


38  LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

funds  herein  appropriated  shall  become  available  to  any  college  for  any 
fiscal  year  plans  for  the  work  to  be  carried  on  under  this  act  shall  be  sub- 
mitted by  the  proper  officials  of  each  college  and  approved  by  the  Secretary 
of  Agriculture.  Such  additional  sums  shall  be  used  only  for  the  purposes 
hereinbefore  stated,  and  shall  be  allotted  annually  to  each  State  by  the  Sec- 
retary of  Agriculture  and  paid  in  the  manner  hereinbefore  provided,  in  the 
proportion  which  the  rural  population  of  each  State  bears  to  the  total  rural 
population  of  all  the  States  as  determined  by  the  next  preceding  Federal 
census:  Provided  further,  that  no  payment  out  of  the  additional  appropri- 
ations herein  provided  shall  be  made  in  any  year  to  any  State  until  an  equal 
sum  has  been  appropriated  for  that  year  by  the  Legislature  of  such  State,  or 
provided  by  State,  county,  college,  local  authority,  or  individual  contribu- 
tions from  within  the  State,  for  the  maintenance  of  the  cooperative  agricul- 
tural extension  work  provided  for  in  this  act. 

Sec.  4.  That  the  sums  hereby  appropriated  for  extension  work  shall  be 
paid  in  equal  semiannual  payments  on  the  first  day  of  January  and  July  of 
each  year  by  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  upon  the  warrant  of  the  Secre- 
tary of  Agriculture,  out  of  the  Treasury  of  the  United  States,  to  the  treas- 
urer or  other  officer  of  the  State  duly  authorized  by  the  laws  of  the  State  to 
receive  the  same;  and  such  officer  shall  be  required  to  report  to  the  Secre- 
tary of  Agriculture,  on  or  before  the  first  day  of  September  of  each  year,  a 
detailed  statement  of  the  amount  so  received  during  the  previous  fiscal  year, 
and  of  its  disbursement,  on  forms  prescribed  by  the  Secretary  of  Agriculture. 

Sec.  5.  That  if  any  portion  of  the  moneys  received  by  the  designated 
officer  of  any  State  for  the  support  and  maintenance  of  cooperative  agricul- 
tural extension  work,  as  provided  in  this  act,  shall  by  any  action  or  contin- 
gency be  diminished  or  lost,  or  be  misapplied,  it  shall  be  replaced  by  said 
State  to  which  it  belongs,  and  until  so  replaced  no  subsequent  appropriation 
shall  be  apportioned  or  paid  to  said  State,  and  no  portion  of  said  moneys 
shall  be  applied,  directly  or  indirectly,  to  the  purchase,  erection,  preserva- 
tion, or  repair  of  any  building  or  buildings,  or  the  purchase  or  rental  of 
land,  or  in  college  course  teaching,  lectures  in  colleges,  promoting  agricul- 
tural trains,  or  any  other  purpose  not  specified  in  this  act,  and  not  more 
than  5  per  centum  of  each  annual  appropriation  shall  be  applied  to  the  print- 
ing and  distribution  of  publications.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  each  of  said 
colleges  annually,  on  or  before  the  first  day  of  January,  to  make  to  the 
Governor  of  the  State  in  which  it  is  located  a  full  and  detailed  report  of  its 
operations  in  the  direction  of  extension  work  as  defined  in  this  act,  includ- 
ing a  detailed  statement  of  receipts  and  expenditures  from  all  sources  for 
this  purpose,  a  copy  of  which  report  shall  be  sent  to  the  Secretary  of  Agri- 
culture and  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  of  the  United  States. 

Sec.  6.  That  on  or  before  the  first  day  of  July  in  each  year  after  the 
passage  of  this  act  the  Secretary  of  Agriculture  shall  ascertain  and  certify 
to  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  as  to  each  State  whether  it  is  entitled  to 
receive  its  share  of  the  annual  appropriation  for  cooperative  agricultural 
extension  work  under  this  act,  and  the  amount  which  it  is  entitled  to 
receive.  If  the  Secretary  of  Agriculture  shall  withhold  a  certificate  from 
any  State  of  its  appropriation,  the  facts  and  reasons  therefor  shall  be 
reported  to  the  President,  and  the  amount  involved  shall  be  kept  separate 
in  the  Treasury  until  the  expiration  of  the  Congress  next  succeeding  a 
session  of  the  Legislature  of  any  State  from  which  a  certificate  has  been 
withheld  in  order  that  the  State  may,  if  it  should  so  desire,  appeal  to  Con- 
gress from  the  determination  of  the  Secretary  of  Agriculture.  If  the  next 
Congress  shall  not  direct  such  sum  to  be  paid,  it  shall  be  covered  into  the 
Treasury. 


MESSAGES  TO  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY  39 

Sec.  7.  That  the  Secretary  of  Agriculture  shall  make  an  annual  report  to 
Congress  of  the  receipts,  expenditures,  and  results  of  the  cooperative  agri- 
cultural extension  work  in  all  of  the  States  receiving  the  benefits  of  this  act, 
and  also  whether  the  appropriation  of  any  State  has  been  withheld;  and  if 
so,  the  reasons  therefor. 

Sec.  8.  That  Congress  may  at  any  time  alter,  amend,  or  repeal  any  or  all 
of  the  provisions  of  this  act. 

Approved  May  8,  1914. 


(9) 
SUBMITTING  LETTER  FROM  THE  SECRETARY  OF  AGRICULTURE, 
TOGETHER  WITH  PROPOSED  BILL  FOR  THE  PROTECTION 
OF  FISH  AND  GAME  ON  LANDS  IN  STATE  PUR- 
CHASED BY  FEDERAL  GOVERNMENT 

January,  1915. 
To  the  Honorable,  The  General  Assembly  of  North  Carolina: 

I  send  you  herewith  a  copy  of  a  letter  from  the  Secretary  of  Agriculture, 
Hon.  D.  F.  Houston,  together  with  a  proposed  bill  for  the  protection  of  fish  and 
game  on  the  lands  recently  purchased  by  the  Federal  Government  in  the  western 
part  of  the  State. 

If  properly  protected,  these  lands  would  soon  become  stocked  with  the  finest 
game,  deer,  bear,  elk,  and  smaller  game.  If  not  protected,  the  larger  of  the  wild 
animals  would  be  destroyed,  and  the  whole  of  the  lands  would  soon  become  of  no 
account  as  a  place  for  game.  Protection  by  the  State  or  by  the  Federal  Govern- 
ment is  imperatively  demanded. 

If  the  State  does  not  wish  to  assume  the  expense  and  responsibility  of  guarding 
and  conserving  this  territory,  the  consent  of  the  State  should  be  given  to  the 
Federal  Government  for  this  purpose. 

Yours  truly,  Locke    Craig, 

Governor. 

Department  of  Agriculture, 

Washington,  January  25,  1915. 

Hon.  Locke  Craig,  Governor  of  North  Carolina, 
Raleigh,  N.  G. 

Deae  Governor  Craig: — Referring  to  the  proposed  bill  for  the  protection 
of  game  and  fish  on  Federal  lands  in  the  western  part  of  North  Carolina, 
Mr.  William  L.  Hall  of  the  Forest  Service  recently  conferred  with  the  repre- 
sentatives of  the  Appalachian  Park  Association  at  Asheville  in  regard  to  the 
form  of  bill  which  had  been  sent  you.  At  that  conference  the  point  came  up 
that  it  would  probably  be  well  to  leave  with  the  Federal  Government  the 
decision  as  to  whether  or  not  any  land  made  a  Federal  game  preserve  should 
be  completely  closed  to  the  taking  of  fish  and  game  at  all  times.  In  this 
view  the  Solicitor  of  this  Department  and  the  Forester  also  agreed.  I  there- 
fore enclose  a  redraft  of  the  bill  sent  you  some  days  ago,  and  desire  to  ask 
that  you  consider  it  as  the  recommendation  of  the  Department  in  place  of 
the  bill  sent  you  on  January  11.  Very  sincerely  yours, 

D.  F.  Houston, 

Secretary. 


40  LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

A  bill  to  be  entitled  An  act  to.  give  the  consent  of  the  State  of  North 
Carolina  to  the  making  by  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  or 
under  its  authority,  of  all  such  rules  and  regulations  as  in  the  opin- 
ion of  the  Federal  Government  may  be  needful  in  respect  to  game 
animals,  game  and  nongame  birds,  and  fish  on  lands,  and  in  or  on 
the  waters  thereon,  acquired  or  to  be  acquired  by  the  Federal  Gov- 
ernment in  the  western  part  of  North  Carolina  for  the  conservation 
of  the  navigability  of  navigable  rivers. 

Whereas  the  Government  of  the  United  States,  with  the  consent  of  the 
General  Assembly  of  the  State  of  North  Carolina,  has  acquired  and  will 
acquire  areas  of  forested  land  in  the  western  part  of  said  State  for  the  pur- 
pose of  conserving  the  navigability  of  navigable  streams,  and  said  lands  and 
waters  thereon  are  and  will  be  stocked,  naturally  and  artificially,  with  game 
animals,  game  and  nongame  birds,  and  fish;   and 

Whereas,  in  order  adequately  to  enjoy  and  protect  the  occupancy  and  use 
of  said  areas,  it  is  important  that  the  United  States  be  fully  authorized  to 
make  all  needful  rules  and  regulations  in  respect  to  such  animals,  birds,  and 
fish:  Therefore, 

The  General  Assembly  of  North  Carolina  do  enact: 

Section  1.  That  the  consent  of  the  General  Assembly  of  North  Carolina 
be  and  hereby  is  given  to  the  making  by  the  Congress  of  the  United  States, 
or  under  its  authority,  of  all  such  rules  and  regulations  as  the  Federal  Gov- 
ernment shall  determine  to  be  needful  in  respect  to  game  animals,  game  and 
nongame  birds,  and  fish  on  such  lands  in  the  western  part  of  North  Carolina 
as  shall  have  been,  or  may  hereafter  be,  purchased  by  the  United  States 
under  the  terms  of  the  act  of  Congress  of  March  1,  1911,  entitled  "An  act  to 
enable  any  State  to  cooperate  with  any  other  State  or  States,  or  with  the 
United  States,  for  the  protection  of  the  watersheds  of  navigable  streams, 
and  to  appoint  a  commission  for  the  acquisition  of  lands  for  the  purposes  of 
conserving  the  navigability  of  navigable  rivers"  (Thirty -sixth  United  States 
Statutes  at  Large,  page  961),  and  acts  of  Congress  supplementary  thereto 
and  amendatory  thereof,  and  in  or  on  the  waters  thereon. 


(10) 

TRANSMITTING  REPORTS  OF  THE  VARIOUS  INSTITUTIONS 

OF  THE  STATE 

January,  1915. 

To  the  Honorable,  The  General  Assembly  of  North  Carolina: 

I  herewith  transmit  to  you  the  Report  of  the  Legislative  Committee  appointed 
by  the  General  Assembly  of  1913,  under  section  5378  of  the  Revisal,  to  audit  the 
accounts  and  vouchers  of  the  State  Treasurer,  Insurance  Commissioner,  and 
State  Auditor,  for  the  fiscal  years  ending  December  1,  1913,  and  December  1,  1914. 

The  original  of  this  report  was  filed  in  this  office  in  December,  1914,  but  in 
some  way  has  been  misplaced,  and  is  not  now  in  the  office.  For  this  reason  it  was 
overlooked  and  not  transmitted  sooner  to  the  General  Assembly.  The  report  here- 
with transmitted  is  a  carbon  copy.  Locke    Craig 

Governor. 


MESSAGES  TO  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY  41 

(11) 

APPOINTMENTS  STATE  BOARD  OF  EDUCATION,  SUBMITTED  TO 
THE  SENATE  FOR  RATIFICATION 

Executive  Department 
Raleigh,  North  Carolina 

February  25,  1915. 
To  the  Senate  of  North  Carolina: 

As  President  of  the  State  Board  of  Education,  I  have  the  honor  to  report  to 
your  honorable  body  that  the  State  Board  of  Education,  under  section  4252  of 
the  Revisal  of  1905  of  North  Carolina,  at  its  meeting  on  February  25,  1915, 
appointed,  subject  to  the  confirmation  of  the  Senate,  the  following  as  members 
of  the  board  of  directors  of  the  State  Normal  and  Industrial  College,  to  succeed 
themselves  for  a  term  of  sis  years,  beginning  March,  1916: 

George  W.   Hinshaw  of  Fifth   Congressional  District, 
T.  B.  Bailey  of  Seventh  Congressional  District, 
T.  S.  McMullan  of  First  Congressional  District. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

Locke  Craig, 
Governor,  and  President  of  State  Board  of  Education. 


(12) 

APPOINTMENTS  SUBMITTED  TO  SENATE  FOR  RATIFICATION 

Executive  Department 
Raleigh,  North  Carolina 

March  6,  1915. 

To  the  Senate  of  North  Carolina: 

In  the  exercise  of  the  duty  and  power  conferred  upon  me  by  law,  I  nominate 
the  persons  hereinafter  named  for  the  offices  designated;  and  by  and  with  the 
advice  and  consent  of  the  Senate,  they  will  be  and  are  hereby  severally  and 
respectively  appointed  to  the  said  offices. 

Directors  for  the  State  School  for  the  Blind  and  Deaf,  Raleigh,  for  the  term 
of  six  years,  beginning  March  6,  1915 : 

G.  E.  Lineberry  of  Hertford  County, 

J.  T.  Finley  of  Wilkes  County, 

C.  B.  Edwards  of  Wake  County,  to  succeed  J.  T.  Nichols, 

M.  L.  Kesler  of  Davidson  County,  to  succeed  Archibald  Johnson. 


42  LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

Directors  for  the  State  Hospital  at  Goldsboro  for  the  term  of  six  years,  begin- 
ning March  12,  1915: 

Dr.  J.  G.  Anderson  of  Greene  County, 
J.   A.  Beaman  of  Sampson   County, 
Dr.  J.  T.  Hoggard  of  Pender  County. 

Members   of  the  Board  of  Agriculture  for  the  term  of  six  years,   beginning 
March  11,  1915 : 

William  Bledsoe,  Eighth  District, 

B.  W.  Scott,  Fifth  District, 

C.  W.  Mitchell,  Second  District. 

Directors  of  the  State  Hospital  at  Morganton  for  the  term  of  six  years,  begin- 
ning March  1,  1915: 

Heriot  Clarkson  of  Mecklenburg  County, 
Charles  P.  Matheson  of  Alexander  County, 
Dr.  L.  !N".  Glenn  of  Gaston  County. 

Directors  of  the  North  Carolina  School  for  the  Deaf  at  Morganton,  for  the  term 
of  six  years,  beginning  March  12,  1915: 

Archibald  Johnson  of  Davidson  County,  to  succeed  J.  H.  Mock, 

Rev.  J.  0.  Atkinson  of  Alamance  County,  to  succeed  M.  H.  Holt,  deceased. 

Directors  of  the  State  Hospital  at  Raleigh,  for  the  term  of  six  years,  beginning 
March  12,  1915: 

Dr.  T.  W.  M.  Long  of  Halifax  County, 

W.  H.  Williams  of  Beaufort  County, 

B.  B.  Adams  of  Johnston  County,  to  succeed  E.  G.  Moore. 

Members  of  the  Geological  Board,  for  the  term  of  four  years : 

John  Sprunt  Hill  of  Durham  County,  to  succeed  W.  H.  Williamson, 
Hugh  McRae  of  New  Hanover  County, 
F.  R.  Hewett  of  Buncombe  County. 

Directors  of  the  School  for  the  Feeble-minded,  at  Kinston,  for  the  term  of  six 
years,  beginning  March  4,  1915 : 

W.  C.  Newland  of  Caldwell  County, 

D.  F.  Wooten  of  Lenoir  County, 

W.  A.  Thompson  of  Beaufort  County, 

J.  R.  Baggett  of  Harnett  County, 

Mark  Majette  of  Tyrrell  County,  to  succeed  A.  C.  Davis, 

J.  D.  Boushall  of  Wake  County. 

Directors  of  the  A.   and  M.   College,  Raleigh,   for  the  term  of  eight  years, 
begining  March  20,  1915: 

M.  B.  Stickley  of  Cabarrus  County, 

T.  T.  Ballinger  of  Polk  County, 

O.  L.  Clark  of  Bladen  County, 

W.  H.  Williamson  of  Wake  County,  to  succeed  N.  B.  Broughton,  deceased, 

P.  S.  Boyd  of  Iredell  County,  to  succeed  D.  A.  Tompkins,  deceased. 

Locke    Craig, 

Governor. 


MESSAGES  TO  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY  43 

(13) 
BIENNIAL  MESSAGE  TO  THE  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY,  SESSION  1917 

To  the  Honorable,  the  General  Assembly  of  North  Carolina: 

The  days  of  my  ministration  are  accomplished.  In  obedience  to  the  Constitu- 
tion and  in  compliance  with  your  will  I  speak  to  you  my  last  word  as  the  Governor 
of  the  State  of  North  Carolina. 

Four  years  ago  you  invested  me  with  the  responsibilities  of  this  high  office. 
I  have  welcomed  every  opportunity  for  service,  and  my  strength  and  energy  have 
been  devoted  to  the  State.  I  have  administered  this  office  steadfast  in  the  resolve  to 
do  exact  justice  to  all — to  the  rich  and  to  the  poor,  to  the  strong  and  to  the  weak — 
without  regard  to  race  or  politics.  In  delivering  up  this  place  to  my  able  and 
patriotic  successor,  it  is  with  regret  that  I  have  not  been  able  to  do  more  for  the 
people  that  conferred  upon  me  the  honor  and  the  trust,  to  be  the  chief  magistrate 
of  the  State. 

I  acknowledge  with  gratitude  the  courtesy  and  cooperation,  the  faithful  work  of 
all  of  my  associates  and  assistants  in  office. 

I  reflect  with  some  pride  and  satisfaction  that  the  people  by  an  overwhelming 
majority  have  placed  the  seal  of  approval  upon  my  administration,  and  have 
declared  their  confidence  in  my  successor  and  his  administration. 

I  do  not  come  with  a  full  program  for  your  consideration ;  that  task  will  be 
performed  by  my  successor. 

SALARIES   OF   THE  STATE  OFFICERS 

In  my  opinion  the  salaries  of  State  officers  should  be  increased.  The  Constitu- 
tion forbids  any  increase  of  the  salary  of  Governor  and  officers  created  by  the  Con- 
stitution during  their  terms  of  office.  Any  increase  for  them  must  be  before  the 
inauguration.  The  greatly  increased  cost  of  living  has  made  all  salaries  less 
valuable.  It  seems  but  reasonable  that  we  should  pay  our  Chief  Executive  as  much 
as  the  Federal  Government  pays  the  Senators  and  Representatives  in  Congress. 
The  Governor  cannot  live  in  the  Mansion  provided  by  the  State  at  the  present 
salary  and  do  the  things  expected  of  him,  and  which  he  must  do  in  accordance 
with  established  custom  and  the  requirements  of  hospitality.  I  know  whereof  I 
speak.  He  must  provide  the  means  from  other  sources,  and  this  the  State  does 
not  desire. 

The  same  observation  applies  to  all  the  State  officers,  but  the  Legislature  will 
have  full  time  for  consideration  of  remuneration  to  all  of  them  except  the  Governor 
and  the  members  of  his  council.  We  have  able,  conscientious  officials.  They  are 
worth  more,  they  earn  more  than  they  receive.  The  people  of  North  Carolina 
would  willingly  pay  a  reasonable  and  just  compensation  for  efficient  service. 

All  the  offices  and  all  the  places  in  our  Government  have  been  administered 
in  economy  and  honesty,  above  the  breath  of  scandal,  and  by  men  of  upright 
lives  and  high  purposes,  whose  daily  walk  is  in  the  democratic  plainness  and 
simplicity  of  the  tribunes  of  ancient  Rome. 

CONSTITUTIONAL  AMENDMENTS 

At  the  last  election  the  people  ratified  amendments  to  the  Constitution.  This 
General  Assembly  must  enact  statutes  to  make  them  effective.     Tou  will  by  the 


44    LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

amendments  be  relieved  of  a  vast  amount  of  local  legislation,  and  have  time  for 
the  consideration  of  problems  of  general  importance. 

CUBA  AND  THE  BONDS 

Recently  the  Republic  of  Cuba  has  come  into  the  possession  of  "Reconstruction 
Bonds"  amounting  to  more  than  two  millions  of  dollars,  and  is  attempting  to 
enforce  the  payment  of  these  bonds  in  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States. 
The  bonds  were  issued  in  the  evil  days  that  followed  the  war,  when  corruption  and 
plunder  were  shameless,  when  marauders  infested  this  Capitol.  The  State  received 
no  benefit  from  them.  They  were  promptly  repudiated,  and  the  Constitutional 
Convention  of  1875  made  unlawful  their  payment  by  any  official  or  by  any  Gen- 
eral Assembly.  Their  dishonor  was  published  to  the  world,  and  no  interest  upon 
them  has  ever  been  paid. 

Adventurers  and  unscrupulous  speculators  have  procured  or  gotten  control 
of  many  of  these  bonds,  and  have  by  devious  methods  attempted  to  collect  them. 
The  Federal  Constitution  provides  that  no  individual  can  sue  the  sovereign  State. 
On  this  account  the  holders  and  their  agents  have  attempted  to  force  collection 
through  the  agency  of  other  States  of  the  Union,  and  for  this  purpose  have  offered 
most  liberal  gifts  to  States  with  whom  they  have  negotiated.  After  these  States 
became  informed  of  the  facts  they  refused  to  touch  the  unclean  thing. 

If  North  Carolina  owed  the  bonds,  she  would  pay  them,  and  would  have  recog- 
nized their  validity.  She  does  not  owe  them,  and  will  in  every  way  possible  resist 
their  payment. 

The  citizens  of  North  Carolina  have  always  felt  the  deepest  interest  in  the 
welfare  and  the  destiny  of  the  Republic  of  Cuba.  In  1898  thousands  of  young 
men  volunteered  from  the  State  to  enlist  in  the  army  for  the  relief  from  oppression 
and  for  the  liberty  of  the  people  of  that  island.  The  blood  of  the  bravest  was 
shed  in  this  war  of  emancipation  and  humanity.  We  were,  for  these  reasons, 
astonished  that  the  Republic  of  Cuba  should  make  herself  a  party  to  the  unholy 
alliance  for  forcing  from  North  Carolina  the  payment  of  these  dishonored  and 
fraudulent  bonds. 

I  have  declined  to  consider  any  suggestion  of  compromise.  I  have  declined 
all  suggestions  of  negotiations  with  the  view  to  securing  a  withdrawal  of  this  suit 
by  the  Republic  of  Cuba.  These  bonds  are  not  like  the  South  Dakota  bonds.  It 
is  inconceivable  to  me  that  the  action  can  be  maintained  in  any  jurisdiction,  or  that 
their  payment  by  this  sovereign  State  can  be  enforced  by  any  power.  I  have 
employed  able  counsel  to  assist  the  Attorney-General.  The  case  is  set  for  argument 
in  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States  on  Monday  the  eighth  of  January.  We 
will  fight  it  to  a  finish.  I  am  convinced  that  the  State  of  North  Carolina  will 
prevail  in  the  great  case  now  pending,  and  that  this  last  cloud  of  Reconstruction 
which  has  threatened  for  fifty  years  upon  our  horizon  will  disappear  forever. 

CONDITION   OF   THE   STATE 

I  rejoice  to  declare  that  the  State  is  in  better  condition  than  at  any  period  of 
her  whole  history,  that  the  governing  party  that  placed  me  here  is  stronger  and 
more  secure  than  ever  in  the  loyalty  and  harmonious  union  of  its  members,  and 
that  by  the  long  continuation  of  a  government  of  integrity  and  devotion  to  the 
public  weal,  it  has  justified  the  confidence  and  trust  of  the  people. 


MESSAGES  TO  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY  45 

In  our  memory  there  are  years  of  darkness  and  hardship  with  tempests  of 
war  for  a  background,  when  political  night  prevailed,  and  its  minions  went  forth 
to  plunder  and  to  devour,  when  fields  were  barren,  when  schools  were  closed,  when 
people  were  poor  and  discouraged,  and  when  opportunity  was  denied.  This  was 
indeed  a  land  of  sorrows  and  acquainted  with  grief.  We,  ourselves,  have  been 
witnesses  and  partakers  in  the  transformation  of  a  State  and  her  people.  Out  of 
the  darkness  of  reconstruction  there  was  the  dayspring  of  '76.  The  people  girded 
their  loins  to  overcome  adversity.  They  reestablished  a  government  of  law  and 
security.  They  rehabilitated  the  State  and  her  institutions.  They  opened  the 
University  and  built  the  schools. 

During  the  sixteen  years  of  this  century  North  Carolina  has  made  more  progress 
than  in  all  the  years  of  her  preceding  history.  In  substantial  development  she  has 
been  surpassed  by  no  State  of  the  Union,  nor  by  any  civilized  country  whose  history 
we  know.     Her  growth  and  accomplishment  is  like  a  tale  of  Arabian  romance. 

AGRICULTURE 

We  are  an  agricultural  people,  and  agriculture  measures  our  National  progress. 
By  the  intelligent  cultivation  of  the  soil,  the  yield  of  all  staple  crops  per  acre  has 
been  about  doubled.  The  acreage  of  tillage  has  been  increased  until  now  the  State, 
once  far  behind,  ranks  in  agriculture  among  the  first  of  the  Union.  The  prosperity 
of  the  farm  appears  to  the  passer-by  in  improved  fields,  improved  dwellings,  and 
all  the  appointments  of  the  farm. 

The  College  of  Agriculture  and  Mechanic  Arts  and  the  Department  of  Agri- 
culture have  been  potential  agencies  in  this  wonderful  development.  The  College 
must  be  manned  and  equipped  for  its  larger  usefulness.  It  should  have  five 
thousand  students.  Its  alumni  will  go  to  all  sections  of  the  State,  and  of  the 
country,  trained  for  captains  of  industry,  for  the  practical  and  scientific  cultivation 
of  the  soil  and  for  the  higher  development  of  the  profession  of  agriculture. 

The  Department  of  Agriculture  has  stimulated  farming  to  increasing  activity. 
It  has  protected  the  farmers  from  imposition,  it  has  ascertained  and  encouraged 
the  most  profitable  crops  by  methods  of  intelligent  experiment  and  demonstration. 
The  building  now  occupied  by  the  Department  is  not  fit.  In  its  stead  there  should 
be  erected  a  building  commensurate  with  the  requirements,  typifying  the  finest 
and  greatest  of  all  of  the  industries  of  North  Carolina. 

MANUFACTURES  AND  COMMERCE 

Manufacturing  is  prospering  as  never  before,  and  is  developing  in  every  section 
of  the  State.  The  cotton  mills  alone  require  for  their  operation  a  hundred  and 
eighty-seven  thousand  horse  power.  They  manufacture  all  the  cotton  that  we 
produce  and  more.  The  value  of  their  product  for  the  last  year  was  a  hundred 
million  dollars. 

The  utilization  of  waterpower  is  assuming  large  proportions.  On  a  twenty 
mile  section  of  the  Yadkin  River  two  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  horse  power 
is  now  in  course  of  development.  From  one  end  of  the  State  to  the  other  are 
electric  cables  through  which  are  poured  the  transformed  power  of  the  French 
Broad,  the  Catawba,  the  Yadkin,  the  Pee  Dee,  the  Cape  Fear  and  the  Roanoke, 
delivering  exhaustless  energy  to  the  centers  of  industry,  lighting  cities  and  towns, 
and  driving  millions  of  wheels  and  spindles.  The  commercial  advancement  of 
our  towns  and  cities  is  keeping  pace  with  manufacturing  and  agriculture. 


46  LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 


RURAL   CONDITIONS 

The  country  home  is  no  longer  a  place  of  isolation  and  desolation.  Improved 
farming  brings  the  comforts  of  life:  the  telephone,  the  mail  box,  good  schools, 
and  good  roads  enlarge  and  illuminate  the  horizon  of  country  life.  As  rural 
conditions  improve  ambitious  youth  and  manhood  will  abide  and  grow  in  the 
free  and  pure  atmosphere  for  the  breeding  of  a  robust  race.  The  country  home 
should  be  provided  with  all  modern  appliances  of  comfort  and  economy.  Rural 
communities  should  be  empowered  by  statute  to  incorporate  themselves  for  the 
purpose  of  securing  water  and  light,  and  all  available  public  utilities.  Running 
water  in  the  home  is  the  most  desirable  of  all  modern  conveniences.  It  saves 
women  and  children  from  drudgery  in  the  heat  and  in  the  cold.  It  brings  comfort 
and  cleanliness.  It  preserves  health.  Every  farmer  of  moderate  means  can  have 
this  convenience.  It  is  not  an  expense.  It  is  an  economy.  With  screens  in 
the  windows  and  pure  running  water  in  the  house,  the  home  will  be  clean  and 
sanitary,  and  the  people  who  dwell  therein  will  be  cleaner,  healthier,  stronger 
and  better. 

VACANT  LANDS 

"We  have  always  the  perplexing  question  of  taxation.  The  Constitution  makes 
the  solution  difficult.  The  large  per  cent  of  the  personal  wealth  of  the  State  is 
not  listed  for  taxation.  One  cause  for  this  is  the  alleged  undervaluation  of 
the  land. 

The  Corporation  Commission  made  an  intelligent  and  courageous  effort  to 
equalize  the  tax  values  of  the  State,  and  have  accomplished  much,  but  the  situation 
is  by  no  means  satisfactory. 

There  are  in  the  State  vast  areas  of  unused  land  held  for  speculation.  The 
owners  neither  use  it  not  intend  to  use  it.  These  lands  are  listed  for  taxation 
at  a  very  small  part  of  their  sale  value.  In  assessments  the  discrimination  is  in 
their  favor  and  against  the  lands  that  have  been  improved.  These  unused  lands 
should  not  be  favored  by  the  tax  assessor,  for  their  owners  are  appropriating  the 
value — the  unearned  increment  created  by  the  growth  and  enterprise  of  the 
whole  community.  If  there  be  any  discrimination  let  it  favor  the  man  who  has 
improved  by  industry  his  holdings,  and  made  his  land  productive;  not  to  the 
man  who  refuses  to  improve  and  who  prevents  the  natural  development.  A 
proper  assessment  would  discourage  the  holding  of  vacant  land  for  purposes 
of  speculation,  and  encourage  the  industrious  and  the  energetic  to  buy  their 
own  homes.     This  is  especially  true  of  city  and  surburban  property. 

There  is  nothing  that  contributes  more  to  the  strength  and  patriotism,  the 
highest  development  of  citizenship,  than  the  ownership  of  homes.  A  proprietor 
is  independent.  He  cannot  be  a  serf.  Every  farmer  in  Worth  Carolina  should 
determine  to  own  the  land  upon  which  he  lives  though  the  acreage  be  small. 
He  will  then  have  a  firm  dwelling  place,  a  steadfast  interest  in  country  and 
government. 

The  Federal  Reserve  Act  has  destroyed  the  money  monopoly.  The  farm 
loan  bank  recognizes  the  land  as  security  upon  which  money  can  be  obtained 
on  long  and  easy  terms.  Land  in  Worth  Carolina  is  comparatively  cheap.  A 
man  of  energy  and  determination  can  own  his  home  if  he  will. 


MESSAGES  TO  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY  47 


GOOD  EOADS 

Good  roads  have  been  a  potential  agency  for  the  welfare  of  the  State.  In 
obedience  to  the  dictates  of  common  sense,  business  requirements  and  the  pro- 
gressive spirit  of  the  age,  the  people  of  North  Carolina  have  determined  to 
have  good  roads.  During  the  last  four  years  we  have  built  twice  as  many  miles 
of  improved  highways  as  in  all  our  preceding  history.  We  now  have  about 
fifteen  thousand  miles  of  well  graded,  surfaced  roads.  In  January,  1913,  we 
had  about  five  thousand  miles.    We  have  built  ten  thousand  since  then. 

During  the  last  four  years  the  Central  Highway  has  been  built  from  the 
Atlantic  Ocean  over  the  coastal  plain,  over  the  hills  of  the  Piedmont,  over  the 
Blue  Ridge  to  the  Canyon  of  the  Great  Smoky  Mountains.  The  section  of  this 
road  from  Old  Fort  to  Ridge  Crest,  and  a  section  in  Madison  County  were  built 
by  State  convicts.  Within  the  last  four  years  the  highway  from  Charlotte  to 
Asheville  has  been  completed.  The  State  convicts  built  that  difficult  section 
from  Chimney  Rock  to  Hickory  Nut  Gap.  Similar  highways  have  been  built 
across  the  State  and  into  every  section.  Road  building  goes  on  with  increasing 
momentum.  No  community  will  be  without  them  unless  it  be  satisfied  to  deny 
itself  the  improvements  of  modern  life  in  this  day  of  enlightenment  and  progress. 
The  old  country  road  of  rocks  and  mud  and  steep  hills,  consuming  energy,  for- 
bidding progress,  is  past.  With  good  roads  communities  are  correlated,  markets 
are  available,  schools  and  churches  are  accessible,  land  rises  in  value,  progress 
is  inevitable.  Our  highways  are  immeasurably  finer  than  "The  King's  Highway" 
of  old,  and  they  are  the  tracks  for  the  swift  and  powerful  vehicles. 

The  automobile  is  the  modern  machine  for  local  transportation.  They  are 
rapidly  coming  into  universal  use.  We  cannot  get  along  without  them,  and  they 
cannot  get  along  without  the  good  road.  Their  indispensable  efficiency  is  not 
available  without  the  graded,  surfaced  highway.  They  are  monopolizing  the 
roads,  and  they  make  road  building  and  road  maintenance  far  more  expensive. 
They  should  bear  a  large  part  of  this  burden.  The  tax  on  them  might  be  increased, 
and  their  owners  would  not  complain  provided  the  money  be  applied  to  the  better- 
ment of  the  roads. 

HIGHWAY  COMMISSION 

The  State  Highway  Commission  was  established  by  the  General  Assembly 
of  1915.  This  commission  has  justified  its  creation.  Its  usefulness  has  been 
limited  by  lack  of  funds.  The  revenue  from  automobiles  might  be  largely  ad- 
ministered by  the  Commission.  The  modern  highway  is  no  longer  a  neighborhood 
affair,  but  a  State  institution  for  communication  and  use  by  the  people  of  different 
sections.  By  improper  location  and  construction  a  vast  amount  of  money  has 
been  spent  not  to  the  best  advantage.  This  can  in  the  future  be  remedied  by 
conferring  upon  the  Commission  supervisory  powers.  Competent  and  experienced 
engineers  could  be  furnished. 

BAILEOAD  GEADE  CEOSSINGS 

On  all  of  the  principal  highways  railroad  grade  crossings  should  be  abolished. 
This  is  demanded  for  the  utility  of  the  road,  for  the  economy  of  the  railroad,  and 
in  the  interest  of  safety  and  human  life.  The  railroads  are  now  more  prosperous 
than  ever  before.     Their  net  earnings  are  greater.     For  the  last  fiscal  year  the 


48    LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

net  earnings  of  the  railroads  of  the  south  were  approximately  $3,500  per  mile. 
They  have  already  realized  the  duty  which  they  owe  to  the  public  of  removing 
this  inconvenience  and  danger.  They  have  begun  the  work,  and  should  proceed 
with  all  possible  expedition  while  the  expense  can  be  easily  borne. 

The  authorities  of  the  State  have  the  right  to  compel  the  abolition  of  grade 
crossings.  I  do  not  mean  that  the  whole  evil  should  be  remedied  at  once.  Due 
consideration  should  be  given  to  the  transportation  companies,  but  in  the  location 
and  the  building  of  our  highways  we  should  avoid  the  grade  crossings.  The  State 
Highway  Commission  might  designate,  after  consultation  with  the  Corporation 
Commission  and  with  the  companies,  what  crossings  should  be  abolished. 

FEDERAL  AID  FOE  BOAD  BUILDING 

Through  the  Highway  Commission  the  State  is  enabled  to  receive  the  benefits 
of  the  Federal  Aid  Road  Bill,  which  places  at  our  disposal  for  road  construction 
$115,000  for  the  present  year,  and  an  increasing  amount  for  each  succeeding  year. 
One  of  the  provisions  of  this  Federal  Act  is  that  funds  must  be  provided  for  the 
maintenance  of  roads  upon  which  the  Federal  money  is  expended.  The  State 
must  therefore  provide  a  maintenance  fund  if  we  are  to  take  advantage  of  this 
Federal  aid,  and  cooperate  with  the  Federal  Government. 

RAILROAD  BUILDING 

It  has  been  the  recognized  policy  of  the  State  to  aid  in  the  construction  of 
certain  railroads  in  the  Piedmont  section,  and  across  the  Blue  Ridge  Mountains. 
Convicts  have  been  furnished  to  the  Statesville  Air  Line  Railway,  the  Elkin  and 
Alleghany  Railway,  and  to  the  Watauga  and  Yadkin  Valley  Railway.  These 
convicts  are  not  paid  for  in  cash,  but,  as  authorized  by  law,  are  paid  for  in  stock 
of  the  companies.  This  stock  has  no  market  value.  But  the  consideration  is 
not  the  value  of  the  stock,  but  the  value  to  the  State  of  that  magnificent  country 
west  of  the  Blue  Ridge.  These  railroads  when  built  will  connect  that  country 
with  the  State.  In  trade  and  commercial  intercourse  it  is  cut  off  from  North 
Carolina  by  impassable  mountains  and  has  been  forced  to  trade  with  the  cities  of 
Virginia,  and  send  to  them  its  valuable  products.  This  is  a  section  with  a  splendid 
destiny.  We  need  its  fertile  lands  and  vast  forests.  It  is  equal  in  beauty  and 
natural  richness  to  the  famous  southwestern  Virginia  section  which  it  adjoins. 
As  a  matter  of  justice  to  the  patriotic  citizenship  that  dwells  in  the  counties  of 
Alleghany,  Ashe  and  Watauga,  the  State  should  aid  in  securing  for  them  railroad 
transportation  for  their  development  and  for  our  mutual  benefit. 

FREIGHT  RATES 

At  the  beginning  of  my  administration  freight  was  hauled  from  the  north 
and  the  northwest  through  the  State  of  Worth  Carolina  and  delivered  to  the  cities 
of  Virginia  at  a  lower  rate  than  the  carriers  would  stop  this  same  class  of  freight 
and  deliver  it  to  the  cities  of  North  Carolina.  By  this  lower  rate  the  merchants 
of  Virginia  were  enabled  to  sell  goods  in  the  State  of  North  Carolina  cheaper  than 
the  merchants  of  North  Carolina  could  sell  the  same  class  of  goods  at  their  very 
doors.  Business  was  obliged  to  leave  the  State.  The  cities  of  Virginia  flourished 
at  our  expense. 


MESSAGES  TO  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY  49 

The  Federal  Government  had  jurisdiction  of  this  question.  The  injustice  was 
indefensible.  The  people  of  North  Carolina  had  borne  it  for  many  years.  In 
1913  this  unjust  discrimination  was  remedied  to  a  large  extent.  Public  opinion 
was  the  compelling  power.  It  found  expression  through  the  Just  Freight  Eate 
Association,  and  encouragement  in  a  General  Assembly  that  was  ready  to  go  to  the 
limit  to  compel  justice  and  secure  the  rights  of  the  people  of  Worth  Carolina. 
Earnest  men  held  meetings  in  various  cities.  The  wrong  was  exposed,  the  General 
Assembly  was  called  in  extra  session.  The  difficulties  were  great,  and  while  com- 
plete equity  was  not  obtained,  the  remedy  was  substantial.  Under  present  con- 
ditions North  Carolina  wholesale  merchants  have  the  advantage  in  our  territory 
over  competitors  in  any  other  State. 

By  this  extra  session  of  the  General  Assembly  of  1913,  a  statute  was  passed  for 
the  reduction  of  intrastate  freight  rates.  In  accordance  with  the  power  conferred 
upon  the  Governor  a  commission  was  appointed  to  fix  transportation  charges  within 
the  State.  The  report  of  this  commission  was  accepted  by  the  people,  by  the 
carriers,  and  by  the  General  Assembly.  The  railroads  have  sought  before  the 
Interstate  Commerce  Commission  to  raise  some  of  our  State  schedules,  but  in  all 
controversies  the  State  has  prevailed,  and  the  rates  fixed  by  the  commission  are 
now  established. 

By  the  reduction  of  interstate  rates  and  intrastate  rates,  our  people  have  saved 
by  careful  estimate  two  million  dollars  a  year.  The  spirit  of  progress  has  been 
relieved  from  unjust  oppression.  Commercial  and  industrial  enterprises  have  been 
encouraged  and  established.  A  prosperity  has  come  that  could  not  have  resulted 
under  former  conditions. 

There  is  another  phase  of  this  subject  that  I  would  impress  upon  this  General 
Assembly,  upon  the  Corporation  Commission,  and  upon  the  people  of  the  State. 
Freight  originating  in  North  Carolina  going  to  the  States  south  of  us  is  subjected 
to  the  same  tariff  as  the  same  class  of  freight  originating  in  Virginia.  North 
Carolina  is  entitled  to  a  decided  advantage  upon  all  such  merchandise.  The  haul 
is  much  shorter.  Making  all  fair  allowances,  this  freight  originating  in  North 
Carolina  going  south  should  bear  an  average  tariff  of  twenty  cents  less  on  the 
hundred  pounds.  There  is  no  justification  for  fixing  the  same  tariff  upon  south 
bound  freight  for  the  two  States,  when  the  Virginia  freight  must  be  hauled  through 
the  State  of  North  Carolina.  We  are  entitled  to  the  advantage  of  our  geographical 
situation,  and  we  should  not  rest  content  until  this  unjust  discrimination  be  cor- 
rected.    Eternal  vigilance  is  the  price  of  liberty. 

In  recent  years  the  railroads  have  manifested  a  disposition  and  a  desire  to  treat 
the  people  with  fairness  and  to  conduct  and  to  regulate  their  business  in  accordance 
with  a  well  conceived  public  sentiment.  Their  managers  are  men  of  patriotism 
and  broad  views.  I  hope  for  the  continuation  of  peace  and  cooperation  between 
the  people  and  the  carriers  for  mutual  welfare  in  just  regard  to  all  concerned. 

THE  FUTURE 

The  State  has  done  well.  She  is  just  emerging  into  her  strength.  Destiny 
calls.  She  can  accomplish  vastly  more.  Higher  things  demand  to  be  done.  To 
the  energy,  the  faith  and  genius  of  our  people  the  future  is  unfolding  in  sublime 
revelation. 


50  LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

"But,  oh,  not  the  hills  of  Habersham, 

And,  oh,  not  the  valleys  of  Hall 
Avail:  I  am  fain  for  to  water  the  plain. 
Downward  the  voices  of  Duty  call — 
Downward,  to  toil  and  be  mixed  with  the  main, 
The  dry  fields  burn,  and  the  mills  are  to  turn, 
And  a  myriad  flowers  mortally  yearn, 
And  the  lordly  main  from  beyond  the  plain 

Calls  o'er  the  hills  of  Habersham, 

Calls  through  the  valleys  of  Hall." 

EDUCATION 

But  material  development  is  not  the  object  of  man's  highest  endeavor.  Life, 
not  economics,  is  the  purpose  of  society — the  ultimate  aim  of  civilization.  All 
wealth  and  all  laws  and  all  government  must  have  as  their  purpose  a  fuller  and 
finer  life,  a  better  social  order.  In  the  day  of  our  prosperity  we  must  not  forget 
our  institutions  of  learning.  We  must  not  forget  the  places  where  children  and 
men  and  women  are  educated  to  the  higher  conceptions.  I  do  not  like  our  boast 
that  we  are  running  the  cheapest  university,  and  the  cheapest  normal  schools  in 
the  world.  We  need  the  best  in  the  world.  These  institutions  have  done  splendid 
and  indispensable  work.  They  must  grow  or  we  go  backward.  Hope  must  not  be 
denied  to  aspiring  youth.  Who  can  estimate  the  worth  of  our  University,  the 
normal  schools,  the  denominational  colleges,  the  public  schools!  Our  intellectual 
and  moral  growth  must  be  commensurate  with  our  material  growth.  We  rejoice 
that  the  old  log  schoolhouses  have  disappeared,  that  now  in  every  community  there 
is  a  school  building,  the  pride  of  that  community,  and  equal  to  the  college  buildings 
of  the  days  of  our  childhood.  These  measure  the  efficiency  of  the  school.  The 
patriotic  citizens  of  North  Carolina  willingly  pay  taxes  for  the  education  of  the 
young.  They  are  not  willing  that  our  educational  institutions  should  not  develop 
with  the  increasing  demands  of  the  age.  Facilities  must  be  provided  for  the  boys 
and  girls  in  North  Carolina  who  are  eager  for  the  strength  and  equipment  of  life. 

INSTITUTIONS 

During  my  administration  every  institution  in  this  State  and  every  department 
of  the  State  Government  has  been  subjected  to  the  most  thorough  investigation. 
Everything  has  been  uncovered.  ISTo  dishonesty  has  been  anywhere  found.  The 
Board  of  Internal  Improvements  has  done  its  work  fearlessly  and  without  favor- 
itism.   The  institutions  are  of  the  highest  order. 

We  are  expending  hundreds  of  thousands  of  dollars  every  year  in  taking  care 
of  the  insane,  the  deaf  and  dumb,  the  blind  and  the  feeble-minded.  This  is  an 
obligation  that  no  State  can  avoid.  For  if  in  the  days  of  our  good  fortune  we  do 
not  remember  them,  our  hearts  would  be  hardened  and  our  land  would  be  accursed. 
And  when,  according  to  the  plan  of  the  last  General  Assembly,  we  build  the  new 
school  for  the  blind,  let  us  not  be  more  niggardly  to  them  than  any  other  State. 

The  Jackson  Training  School  for  youthful  derelicts  is  doing  a  noble  work. 
Humane  consideration  for  wayward  boys  demands  its  enlargement. 


MESSAGES  TO  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY  51 


SOLDIERS    HOME 

We  have  not  forgotten  the  soldiers  of  the  Confederacy.  We  have  provided  for 
them  a  home,  clean  and  comfortable,  kept  in  a  high  state  of  efficiency.  These 
veterans  are  fast  disappearing.  They  are  all  disabled  by  age,  and  by  the  wounds 
and  the  hardships  of  war.  Our  privilege  to  help  them  is  closing,  for  the  captains 
and  the  soldiers  are  departing. 

HEALTH 

It  is  noble  to  provide  for  the  sick  and  the  afflicted,  but  the  prevention  of  disease 
of  mind  and  of  body  is  the  aim  of  the  higher  and  wiser  humanity.  This  is  the 
task  for  modern  pathology.  Men  and  women  and  children  suffer  and  die  from 
causes  that  can  be  removed.  They  are  deaf  and  dumb  and  are  stricken  with 
blindness  and  insanity,  condemned  to  lives  of  darkness  and  hopelessness,  not  by 
the  inscrutable  decrees  of  Providence,  but  by  the  failure  of  society  to  protect  them 
against  the  enemy  more  cruel  than  death.  The  State  has  no  duty  more  imperative 
than  the  conservation  and  the  promotion  of  health.  Four  years  ago  the  General 
Assembly  passed  the  Vital  Statistics  Law.  It  has  done  immense  good  in  ascertain- 
ing the  causes  of  disease  and  death.  The  work  for  the  prevention  of  disease  has 
been  stimulated.  The  State  Board  of  Health  is  waging  a  campaign  of  energy  and 
intelligence  against  tuberculosis,  typhoid  fever  and  malaria,  and  such  diseases  that 
can  be  exterminated  by  intelligent  and  determined  action.  Many  counties  have  em- 
ployed health  officers.  They  are  doing  good  work,  but  as  yet  the  health  work  is  by 
the  county  as  a  unit.  The  conservation  of  health  is  not  a  local  question.  The  State 
has  an  interest.  The  State  Board  of  Health  should  have  general  supervision  of  this 
work,  and  each  community  should  have  the  benefit  of  its  expert  knowledge  and  wide 
experience.  This  board  should  have  power  to  know  by  systematic  reports  the  con- 
ditions and  the  work  in  each  locality.  Such  correlation  and  publicity  would  in- 
crease efficiency  and  excite  emulation  of  every  health  officer  in  the  State.  The 
State  Board  should  be  given  the  power  to  locate  and  reasonable  means  to  prevent 
the  spread  of  contagious  diseases.  Modern  facilities  for  travel  give  wings  to 
disease.  Infantile  paralysis,  scarlet  fever  and  other  contagions  may  in  a  day  be 
transported  to  distant  counties  for  the  establishment  of  new  centers  of  infection, 
with  dire  calamity.  The  State  law  provides  no  protection  against  this.  The 
Federal  statute  provides  against  interstate  contagion,  but  there  is  no  State  statute 
to  protect  against  intercounty  contagion. 

North  Carolina  has  the  largest  birth  rate  as  to  white  children  of  any  State  in 
the  Union — more  babies  per  capita  than  any  other  country.  This  "Infant  In- 
dustry" deserves  and  demands  protection.  They  are  the  most  desirable  immigrants, 
thoroughbred  from  jSTorman  and  Saxon  sires. 


During  the  last  four  years  the  State's  Prison  has  been  successful  beyond  pre- 
cedent. Above  all  expenses  of  every  kind  it  has  earned  for  the  State  the  net  sum 
of  $400,000.  To  the  Superintendent  of  the  Prison,  the  Board  of  Directors  and 
their  subordinates  credit  must  be  given  for  this  result.  The  institution  has  been 
managed  with  ability,  honesty,  economy  and  in  humane  consideration  for  the 
prisoner.     This  money  has  been  made  for  the  State  by  the  work  of  the  prisoners 


52  LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

on  the  State  farm,  on  the  State  highways,  on  the  railroads,  and  at  the  quarries  and 
dams  of  the  Yadkin  River. 

The  making  of  money  for  the  State  is  not  the  principal  purpose  of  prison 
management.  In  this  flood  tide  of  prosperity  and  plenty,  the  families  of  most  of 
the  prisoners  were  in  need  of  food  and  raiment.  In  many  instances  women  and 
children  were  destitute.  The  poor  and  little  ones  suffer  in  winter.  To  me  it 
seemed  just,  and  to  the  Prison  Board  it  seemed  just  that  out  of  the  earnings  of  the 
unfortunates  a  small  amount  be  sent  to  their  scanty,  needy  homes  to  relieve  some 
distress,  and  as  a  testimonial  of  justice  and  sympathy.  This  seemed  especially 
appropriate  in  these  days  of  good  will  and  benevolence.  Some  may  criticize  this 
act  as  unauthorized,  and  object  to  it  as  an  unsafe  precedent,  but  if  this  General 
Assembly  condemn  it,  every  dollar  of  the  money  will  be  promptly  returned. 
"  'Swear,'  said  the  captious  Roman  tribune  to  the  consul,  'swear  that  you  have 
observed  the  laws.'  'I  swear,'  said  the  consul,  'that  I  have  served  the  Republic'  " 
And  we  too  in  this  have  obeyed  the  law  of  humanity  and  righteousness,  and  done 
the  will  of  the  people  of  North  Carolina. 

I  hope  that  this  General  Assembly  will  by  statute,  consistent  with  the  economic 
welfare  of  the  prison,  provide  for  some  return  to  the  dependent,  needy  families  of 
prisoners  in  times  of  prosperity  like  these. 

I  do  not  believe  in  "coddling"  criminals.  Crime  must  be  punished.  Justice 
is  stern.  The  innocent  suffer  for  the  sins  of  the  guilty.  It  was  so  declared  on 
Sinai.  It  is  the  inexorable  decree.  But  the  law  grows  "with  the  growing  humanity 
of  the  age,  and  broadens  with  the  process  of  the  suns."  At  the  final  judgment,  in 
divine  commiseration  may  it  be  spoken  of  us  too :  "I  was  in  prison  and  ye  minis- 
tered unto  me.  .  .  .  For  inasmuch  as  ye  did  it  unto  the  least  of  these  my 
brethren,  ye  did  it  unto  me." 

Out  of  the  surplus  already  earned  by  the  institution,  this  General  Assembly  in 
obedience  to  the  plainest  duty  should  allow  and  direct  the  Board  of  Directors  to 
build  on  the  Caledonia  Farm  a  modern  prison,  equipped  with  appurtenances  and 
appliances  for  the  proper  care,  custody  and  training  of  the  State's  convicts.  It 
seems  to  be  the  established  policy  of  the  State  to  maintain  this  farm  as  the  place 
of  penal  servitude.  The  buildings  there  are  not  adequate,  and  no  longer  tolerable. 
I  do  not  see  the  necessity  for  the  continued  maintenance  of  the  Central  Prison  at 
Raleigh.     The  whole  Institution  can  be  centralized  at  Caledonia. 

PAEDONS 

During  my  term  of  office  pardons  and  commutations  have  been  granted  to  four 
hundred  and  twenty-eight  persons  convicted  in  the  courts.  Most  of  these  convic- 
tions were  for  misdemeanors,  and  in  many  cases  judgments  were  pronounced  in 
contemplation  of  a  conditional  pardon,  with  the  object  of  restraining  the  offender 
from  further  violations  of  the  law.  In  my  opinion  such  judgments  are  not  in 
accordance  with  the  proper  administration  of  justice.  It  places  upon  the  executive 
the  labor  and  the  responsibility  that  belongs  to  the  courts,  and  the  courts  have 
the  opportunity  to  accurately  ascertain  the  facts.  The  courts  might  be  invested 
with  power  to  pronounce  conditional  and  indeterminate  sentences,  but  the  judg- 
ments of  the  courts  should  be  pronounced  as  a  finality. 

I  have  granted  no  pardon  nor  commutation  except  upon  the  conclusion  after 
most  careful  consideration  that  justice  and  humanity  demanded  it.     In  each  case 


MESSAGES  TO  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY  53 

the  facts  have  been  fairly  stated  with  the  reasons.  The  press  of  the  State  has 
generally  approved.  The  disappointment  and  sorrow  of  those  whose  petitions  have 
been  denied  have  touched  me  deeper  than  criticisms  for  judgments  that  to  me 
seemed  just  and  merciful. 

During  my  term  seventeen  men  have  been  punished  by  death.  I  have  spared 
human  life  unless  the  extreme  penalty  was  justified  by  the  evidence  and  demanded 
by  the  law. 

THE   FLOODS 

On  the  sixteenth  of  last  July  a  great  flood  wrought  disaster  in  western  North 
Carolina.  There  has  been  no  such  swell  of  waters  since  the  country  was  settled 
by  the  white  people.  The  flood  gates  of  heaven  were  lifted  and  the  deluge  poured 
down.  The  sides  of  the  mountains  were  torn  loose.  The  valleys  were  flooded  by 
raging  torrents.  Trees,  crops,  buildings,  roads,  railroads  and  the  land  itself  were 
swept  away.  Animals  could  not  escape,  and  many  human  beings  were  lost.  The 
homes  and  fertile  fields  by  the  rivers  were  destroyed.  The  rich  bottom  lands  of 
the  Yadkin,  the  Catawba  and  tributaries  were  turned  to  desert  wastes. 

In  this  overwhelming  disaster  the  people  were  bewildered.  They  were  for  a 
time  without  food  and  shelter.  When  the  extent  of  the  calamity  became  known  the 
people  of  the  State  nobly  responded.  Eagerly,  generously  they  gave,  not  in  the 
spirit  of  condescending  charity,  but  in  the  discharge  of  an  obligation  to  the  unfor- 
tunate of  their  own  race  and  kindred. 

Mr.  Edward  E.  Britton  was  made  Chairman  of  the  State  Relief  Committee. 
More  than  forty-five  thousand  dollars  have  been  received  by  him.  Local  com- 
mittees were  organized  in  every  county  that  had  been  stricken.  Through  the 
various  local  organizations  at  least  fifty  thousand  dollars  more  have  been  con- 
tributed. All  destitution  was  relieved.  There  has  been  no  suffering.  At  present 
there  is  money  in  the  hands  of  the  chairman  of  the  committee  in  each  county  that 
has  asked  for  relief.  Before  the  holidays  seventeen  thousand  dollars  were  sent  out. 
The  leading  men  in  the  State  offered  their  services  without  compensation,  and  went 
to  carry  relief  and  encouragement.  Neighbors  divided  with  the  needy  whatever 
they  had,  and  throughout  the  State  the  finest  spirit  of  sympathy  was  manifest  in 
contributions  by  all  classes  of  people. 

PRESERVATION   OF  FOEESTS 

The  forests  of  North  Carolina  furnish  annually  a  product  of  immense  value. 
On  the  coastal  plain  and  in  the  mountains,  we  once  had  a  forest  and  a  timber 
supply  unsurpassed  in  any  country.  A  vast  portion  of  this  has  disappeared  by 
unwise  and  wasteful  cutting.  The  pine  of  the  east  and  the  hardwood  of  the  moun- 
tains would  readily  come  again  on  our  fertile  soil  if  properly  protected.  The 
lumbermen  should  be  controlled  by  laws  for  the  economic  use  of  the  forest.  De- 
struction by  fire  should  be  prevented.  Though  the  fairest  part  of  this  inheritance 
of  ours  is  gone,  much  remains,  and  can  be  saved  for  this  and  the  next  generation. 
The  sources  of  supply  of  the  rivers  that  water  the  plains  and  turn  the  wheels  of 
industry  can  be  protected  and  conserved.  Ruinous  floods  can  be  to  a  large  extent 
prevented. 

MOUNT  MITCHELL 

Under  an  act  of  the  General  Assembly  of  1915  the  State  has  a  clear  title  to 
about  six  hundred  acres  on  and  around  the  summit  of  Mount  Mitchell.     This  area 


54  LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

is  covered  with  a  virgin  growth  of  luxuriant  spruce  or  balsam.  Around  this  sec- 
tion now  owned  by  the  State,  the  forest  has  been  mowed  down  by  the  lumberman. 
The  dry  resinous  debris  is  most  inflammable.  After  the  lumberman,  conflagrations 
with  terrific  force  have  swept  these  mountain  areas,  leaving  the  vast  slopes  a 
blackened  desolation.  But  for  the  purchase  by  the  State,  the  whole  of  Mount 
Mitchell  would  be  a  barren  waste.  Now,  as  far  as  this  majestic  mountain,  the 
highest  east  of  the  Rockies,  can  be  seen,  the  dark  green  of  its  summit  is  discernible 
above  the  ruin.  A  railroad  runs  from  the  town  of  Black  Mountain  to  the  edge  of 
the  park  established  by  the  State.  Its  terminus  is  about  three-fourths  of  a  mile 
from  the  top.  Thousands  of  people  visit  this  mountain  during  the  summer.  Each 
year  multiplies  the  number.  The  State  should  recognize  and  regulate  this  rail- 
road as  a  common  carrier  of  passengers,  and  should  confer  upon  the  Governor  the 
power  to  appoint  a  commission  composed  of  patriotic,  interested  citizens  to  serve 
without  pay,  for  the  protection  and  the  management  of  the  park  on  the  summit 
of  Mount  Mitchell.  General  Julian  S.  Carr  has  consented  to  head  a  committee 
for  the  building  of  a  memorial  to  Dr.  Elisha  Mitchell  upon  this  mountain.  This 
insures  a  structure  suitable  to  the  solemnity  and  the  majesty  of  the  sublime  height, 
the  most  famous  in  eastern  America. 

FISHERIES 

The  General  Assembly  of  1915  enacted  a  law  for  the  regulation  of  the  fishing 
industry  and  for  the  conservation  of  the  fish  of  eastern  North  Carolina.  Our 
waters  have  been  and  are  the  source  of  a  valuable  food  supply.  They  have  been 
wastefully  exploited  and  the  yield  largely  diminished.  But  by  wise  and  economic 
management  conditions  will  improve  and  the  fishing  industry  be  restored  for  the 
welfare  of  the  whole  State,  and  the  eastern  section  especially. 

The  law  of  1915  has  been  administered  by  proficient  men  who  have  earnestly 
devoted  themselves  to  the  important  work.  Heretofore  the  subject  has  been  dealt 
with  as  local,  but  now  as  one  of  State  concern  properly  under  the  jurisdiction  of 
the  State.  These  waters  are  not  private  property.  Opposition  has  been  encoun- 
tered. The  Fisheries  Commission  Board  and  executive  officers  have  enforced  the 
law  firmly,  but  with  discretion  and  consideration.  The  healthy  public  sentiment 
now  approves.  The  people  are  coming  to  realize  that  this  law  is  necessary  for  the 
protection  of  the  fishing  industry  from  destruction,  for  the  ultimate  good  of  the 
fishermen,  and  for  the  good  of  the  public.  We  have  the  most  valuable  fishing 
waters  on  the  Atlantic  coast  and  must  not  allow  them  to  be  destroyed. 

MOBILIZATION   OF  THE   NATIONAL  GUARD 

During  the  month  of  June  the  National  Guard  was  called  to  mobilize  for  the 
defense  of  the  southern  border  and  to  meet  the  dangers  that  threatened.  The 
soldiers  of  every  company  in  the  State  willingly  volunteered.  Some  went  at  much 
sacrifice,  but  they  did  not  complain.  At  El  Paso  under  the  command  of  Brigadier 
General  Laurence  W.  Young  they  have  distinguished  themselves  for  discipline  and 
for  military  training  and  efficiency.  They  have  reflected  credit  upon  the  State  in 
peace,  and  were  ready  with  the  courage  and  patriotism  of  their  fathers  to  carry 
the  flag  to  the  farthest  front  of  battle.  The  love  and  the  admiration  of  the  folks 
at  home  have  been  with  them  and  we  hope  for  their  return  as  soon  as  their  pres- 
ence on  the  Bio  Grande  is  no  longer  demanded. 


MESSAGES  TO  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY  55 

It  is  unfortunate  that  these  brave  men  in  the  service  of  their  country  were  in 
the  last  election  deprived  of  the  right  of  franchise.  We  need  a  statute  to  enable 
any  citizen  of  this  State  to  cast  his  vote  when  away  from  home  by  unavoidable 
necessity. 

PEACE 

In  this  State  every  citizen,  every  corporation,  every  legitimate  enterprise,  has 
had  and  should  forever  have  the  protection  and  the  encouragement  of  just  laws 
and  fair  and  houest  government.  The  civic  purpose  and  effort  has  been  to  guaran- 
tee universal  opportunity  and  the  betterment  of  all  the  ranks  of  society. 

And  now  we  should  remember  with  devout  gratitude  that  we  dwell  in  this  land 
of  freedom,  of  prosperity  and  peace.    With  the  Hebrew  poet  we  can  say : 

"How  goodly  are  thy  tents,  0  Jacob;  and  thy  tabernacles,  O  Israel!" 

We  have  been  kept  out  of  war  in  accordance  with  the  highest  conception  of 
honor  and  duty.  This  Nation  has  stood  for  the  law  of  civilization,  for  the  free- 
dom of  the  seas,  for  the  rights  of  American  citizens  in  all  lands.  Every  American 
demand  has  been  acknowledged,  and  every  American  right  has  been  conceded.  The 
Schoolmaster  of  Princeton  College  has  become  the  world  teacher  of  a  new  doctrine 
of  diplomacy.  His  dogmas  of  righteousness  are  more  powerful  than  forty-two 
centimeter  guns.  He  has  dictated  to  militant  kings  and  .emperors  the  principles 
of  humanity,  and  has  exalted  the  majesty  of  justice  above  all  thrones. 

While  the  countries  across  the  Atlantic  are  consumed  by  the  vast  conflagration 
of  desolation ;  while  Europe  is  crushed  and  bleeding ;  while  the  flower  of  her  men 
have  been  destroyed,  and  are  halt  and  maimed  and  blind  and  maniac  by  the  savage 
weapons  of  this  war;  while  all  her  women  and  children  are  in  mourning;  while 
lurid,  ghastly  and  relentless  war  still  strikes  and  strikes  with  unabated  fury,  and 
reaps  his  boundless  harvest  of  death  and  destruction;  we  have  been  spared.  And 
we  have  been  spared  through  the  wisdom,  the  patience,  the  steadfast  courage  of 
this  great  servant  of  God,  for  the  realization  of  the  larger  destiny  of  this  republic, 
in  the  final  exaltation  of  peace  and  righteousness  in  all  of  the  earth.  For  when 
exhausted  Europe  shall  throw  down  the  weapons  of  torture  and  murder,  when 
peoples  that  drink  the  cup  of  trembling  in  the  horror  of  great  darkness  shall  behold 
the  radiance  of  the  coming  day,  Woodrow  Wilson  will  stand  forth  as  the  prophet 
and  the  arbiter  of  peace  for  the  world,  to  point  the  nations  to  the  higher  way  of 
truth,  to  turn  the  hearts  of  the  disobedient  to  the  wisdom  of  the  just. 

Locke  Craig, 
January  4,  1917.  Governor  of  North  Carolina. 


(II) 

REDUCTION  OF  FREIGHT  RATES 


REDUCTION  OF  FREIGHT  RATES 

1.  Joint  Resolution  declaring  the  views  of  the  General  Assembly  of  North  Caro- 

lina with  reference  to  interstate  passenger  and  freight  rates  and  charges, 
and  for  other  purposes.     January  30,  1913. 

2.  Message  to  the  General  Assembly  in  which  appointment  is  made  of  Commis- 

sion to  investigate  and  report  to  General  Assembly  in  accordance  with 
the  Joint  Resolution  in  regard  to  interstate  transportation  charges  by 
common  carriers.    February  If,  1913. 

3.  Letter  to  presidents  of  the  various  railroads  inviting  them  to  a  conference  in 

the  Governor's  office,  February  12,  1913. 

4.  Report  of  the  Corporation  Commission  to  the  Governor  and  Council  of  State 

of  negotiations  for  adjustment  of  interstate  freight  rates.     August  5,  1913. 

5.  Message  to  the  General  Assembly,  Extra  Session,  transmitting  report  of  Cor- 

poration Commission  of  negotiations  for  adjustment  of  interstate  freight 
rates.     September,  1913. 

6.  Proposition  of  common  carriers.     September  19,  1913. 

1.  Letter  to  Fred  N.  Tate,  chairman  Just  Freight  Rate  Association,  transmitting 
proposition  of  common  carriers.     September  19,  1913. 

8.  Letter    to    Freight    Rate    Commission  transmitting  proposition    of    common 

carriers.     September  19,  1913. 

9.  "Rate  Adjustment" — letter  from  Freight  Traffic  Manager,  Southern  Railway, 

to   Chairman  Corporation  Commission.     September  20,  1913. 

10.  Proclamation  by  the   Governor.     Appointing  Special  Freight  Rate   Commis- 

sion.   November  18,  1913. 

11.  Proclamation  by  the   Governor.     Postponing    operation    of    Act    of    Special 

Session  1913  in  regard  to  freight  rates,  pending  investigation  of  Special 
Freight  Rate  Commission.     January  23,  1913. 

12.  Proclamation    by    the    Governor.     Postponing    operation   of   Act    of   Special 

Session  1913  in  regard  to  freight  rates,  pending  investigation  of  Special 
Freight  Rate  Commission.     March  20,  1911/.- 

13.  Proclamation  by  the  Governor.     Postponing  operation    of    Act    of    Special 

Session  1913  in  regard  to  freight  rates,  pending  investigation  of  Special 
Freight  Rate  Commission.     May  19,  19  H. 

14.  Proclamation  by  the  Governor.     Postponing  operation  of  Act  of  Special  Ses- 

sion of  1913  in  regard  to  freight  rates,  pending  investigation  of  Special 
Freight  Rate  Commission.    July  15,  191k- 


60  LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

15.  Proclamation  by  the  Governor.     Postponing  operation  of  Act  of  Special  Ses- 

sion 1913  in  regard  to  freight    rates,    pending    investigation    of    Special 
Freight  Rate   Commission.     August  10,  191k- 

16.  Report  of  Special  Freight  Rate  Commission  transmitted  to  Corporation  Com- 

mission.    August  IS,  191k- 

17.  Report  of  Special  Rate  Commission.    August  13,  191k- 

18.  Proclamation  by  the  Governor,  declaring  freight  rate  schedule.     August  13, 

191k- 

19.  Certificate  Special  Freight  Rate   Commission  in  regard  to  lumber  schedule. 

September  11,  191k- 

20.  Letter  of  A.  A.  Thompson  to  Assistant  Attorney-General,  attached  to  certifi- 

cate of  Special  Freight  Rate  Commission.     September  21,  191k- 

21.  Southern  Railway  Company  by  Alfred  P.  Thorn,  transmitting  paper  signed 

by  common  carriers  relating  to  rates  in  effect  according  to  Proclamation 
by  the  Governor.     October  6,  191k- 

22.  Statement  of  the  Governor  to  the  press.    January  1,  1916. 

23.  Statement  of  the  Governor  to  the  press.    January  1,  1916. 

24.  Letter  and  statement  of  President  Fairfax  Harrison  of  the  Southern  Railway, 

January  k,  1916.     Letter  from  the  Governor  in  reply  thereto. 

25.  Statement  to  the  press.    January  10,  1916. 

26.  Letter  of  President  Fairfax  Harrison  of  the  Southern  Railway.    January  11, 

1916. 


(1) 

JOINT  RESOLUTION  DECLARING  THE  VIEWS  OF  THE  GENERAL 
ASSEMBLY  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA  WITH  REFERENCE  TO  INTER- 
STATE PASSENGER  AND  FREIGHT  RATES  AND  CHARGES, 
AND  FOR  OTHER  PURPOSES.     JANUARY  30,  1913 


Resolution  13. 


H.  R.  13. 
S.  R.  166. 


A  Joint  Resolution  Declaring  the  Views  of  the  General  Assembly  of 
Worth  Carolina  with  Reference  to  Interstate  Passenger  and  Freight 
Rates  and  Charges,  and  for  Other  Purposes. 

Resolved  by  the  House  of  Representatives,  the  Senate  concurring: 

First.  That  in  view  of  the  General  Assembly  of  North  Carolina,  Congress 
should  declare  illegal,  under  any  and  all  circumstances,  any  greater  charge  by  any 
public-service  company  for  transporting  passengers,  or  freights  of  a  given  kind 
and  quantity,  a  shorter  distance  than  is  charged  for  transporting  the  same  a 
longer  distance  in  the  same  direction  when  the  shorter  haul  is  included  in  the 
longer. 

Second.  That  the  Senators  and  Representatives  in  Congress  from  this  State 
be  and  they  are  hereby  requested  and  respectfully  urged  to  support  a  bill  repeal- 
ing the  first  and  second  provisos  to  section  4  of  the  Interstate  Commerce  Act,  and 
to  support  such  other  amendments  as  may  be  necessary  to  make  effective  the 
policy  declared  for  in  the  first  resolution  above. 

Third.  That  pending  the  enactment  into  law  by  Congress  of  the  principles 
above  declared  for,  it  should,  in  the  opinion  of  the  General  Assembly  of  North 
Carolina,  be  the  policy  of  the  State  to  press  before  the  Interstate  Commerce  Com- 
mission objections  to  the  injustice  of  allowing  any  discrimination  against  North 
Carolina  points  in  favor  of  other  points  outside  of  the  State  to  which  hauls  are 
longer  than  to  North  Carolina  points,  and  which  longer  hauls  include  the  hauls 
to  such  North  Carolina  points. 

Fourth.  That  in  addition  to  the  powers  conferred  on  the  North  Carolina  Cor- 
poration Commission  to  institute  and  prosecute  cases  before  the  Interstate  Com- 
merce Commission  for  relief  to  the  people  of  North  Carolina  from  discriminatory 
and  excessive  charges  by  common  carriers,  power  is  conferred  upon  the  Governor 
to  institute  and  prosecute  such  cases,  either  independent  of  or  in  conjunction  with 
the  North  Carolina  Corporation  Commission  in  his  name  on  behalf  of  the  people 
of  the  State,  or  in  the  name  of  any  combined  association  or  body  of  citizens,  or 
in  the  name  of  the  North  Carolina  Corporation  Commission ;  and  for  such  pur- 
pose the  sum  of  not  exceeding  $5,000  a  year  is  appropriated  out  of  any  money  in 
the  State  Treasury  not  otherwise  appropriated,  to  be  paid  on  the  order  of  the 
Governor. 

Fifth.  That  the  Secretary  of  State  shall  transmit  to  each  of  the  United  States 
Senators  and  Members  of  Congress  from  this  State  a  copy  of  these  resolutions. 


62    LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

That  this  resolution  shall  be  in  force  from  and  after  its  ratification. 
In   the   General  Assembly   read   three   times,    and   ratified    this    30th   day   of 
January,  1913. 

(Signed)  E.  L.  Daughtridge, 

President  of  the  Senate. 
(Signed)  George  W.  Connor, 

Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives. 
Examined  and  found  correct. 

(Signed)  E.  E.  Austin, 

For  Committee. 


(2) 

MESSAGE  TO  THE  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY  IN  WHICH  APPOINTMENT  IS 
MADE  OF  COMMISSION  TO  INVESTIGATE  AND  REPORT  TO  GEN- 
ERAL ASSEMBLY  IN  ACCORDANCE  WITH  THE  JOINT  RESOLU- 
TION IN   REGARD   TO    INTERSTATE   TRANSPORTATION 
CHARGES  BY  COMMON  CARRIERS.    FEBRUARY  4, 1913 

State  of  North  Carolina 

Executive  Department 

Raleigh 

To  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of  North  Carolina: 

In  accordance  with  the  Joint  Resolution  of  the  General  Assembly  entitled 
"Joint  Resolution  in  Regard  to  Interstate  Transportation  Charges  by  Common 
Carriers,"  ratified  on  the  3d  day  of  February,  1913,  which  said  resolution  pro- 
vides: "That  the  Governor  of  the  State  be  .  .  .  empowered  and  requested 
to  appoint  a  commission  composed  of  three  members,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to 
take  up  with  the  common  carriers  by  railroad,  doing  interstate  business  in  this 
State  of  transporting  freight  and  passengers,  or  with  such  of  said  common  carriers 
as  may  seem  to  said  commission  to  be  wise,  the  question  and  manner  of  said  rail- 
roads conforming  to  the  declared  policy  of  this  State,  and  report  in  full  during 
the  present  session  of  the  General  Assembly  the  result  of  such  conference,  and  the 
prospect  and  methods  of  securing  conformity  by  said  common  carriers  to  the 
State's  declared  policy:" 

I,  therefore,  in  accordance  with  the  power  conferred  upon  me  by  said  resolu- 
tion, do  hereby  appoint  as  the  three  members  of  the  said  commission: 

E.  J.  Justice,  of  the  county  of  Guilford, 

W.   B.    Councill,   of   the   county  of   Catawba, 

N.  B.  Broughton,  of  the  county  of  Wake, 

to  carry  out  the  purposes  of  the  said  resolution ;  and  I  do  further  hereby  signify 
my  readiness  to  sit  with  the  said  commission  in  accordance  with  the  invitation  in 
said  resolution.  Respectfully,  Locke    Craig, 

Governor. 


REDUCTION  OF  FREIGHT  RATES  63 

(3) 

LETTER  TO  PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  VARIOUS  RAILROADS,  INVITING 

THEM  TO  A  CONFERENCE  IN  THE  GOVERNOR'S 

OFFICE  FEBRUARY  12,  1913 

State  of  North  Carolina 

Executive  Department 

Raleigh 

February  5,  1913. 

Mr.  W.  W.  Finlet,  President,  Southern  Railway  System,  Washington,  D.  C: 

Dear  Sir  : — I  enclose  a  copy  of  a  resolution  which  was  duly  passed  by  the 
General  Assembly  of  North  Carolina,  and  ratified  on  the  3d  day  of  February, 
1913.  You  will  see  that  the  resolution  provides,  among  other  things,  for  the 
appointment  of  a  committee  to  confer  with  said  common  carriers  as  to  the  State's 
declared  policy  in  regard  to  freight  rates  now  affecting  the  people  of  North  Caro- 
lina. In  accordance  with  the  power  conferred  by  the  said  resolution,  the  Governor 
of  North  Carolina  has  appointed  E.  J.  Justice,  "W.  B.  Councill,  and  N.  B. 
Broughton  a  committee  to  carry  out  the  purpose  of  said  resolution,  and  the 
Governor  and  this  committee  do  now  most  respectfully  invite  you  to  the  confer- 
ence provided  for  in  the  resolution,  to  be  held  in  the  office  of  the  Governor  of 
North  Carolina,  in  the  city  of  Raleigh,  on  Wednesday,  the  12th  day  of  February, 
1913,  at  12  o'clock  m.  Very  truly  yours, 

Locke    Craig, 

Governor. 

Copy  to:    N.  S.  Meldrum,  President,  Seaboard  Air  Line  System,  Portsmouth,  Va. 
W.  W.  Finley,  President,  Southern  Railway  System,  Washington,  D.  C. 
L.  E.  Johnson,  President,  Norfolk  and  Western  Railway  Co.,  Roanoke,  Va. 
E.  T.  Lamb,  President,  Norfolk  Southern  Railway,  Norfolk,  Va. 
Milton  H.  Smith,  President,  Louisville  and  Nashville  R.  R.  Co.,  Louisville,  Ky. 
A.  B.  Andrews,  President,  Danville  and  Western  Railway,  Raleigh,  N.  C. 
W.  A.  Barber,  President,  Carolina  and  Northwestern  Railway,  New  York  City. 
M.  W.  Potter,  President,  Carolina,  Clinchfield  and  Ohio  Railway  of  S.  C,  New 

York  City. 
T.  M.  Emerson,  President,  Atlantic  Coast  Line,  Wilmington,  N.  C. 


64         LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

(4) 

REPORT  OF  THE  CORPORATION  COMMISSION  TO  THE  GOVERNOR 

AND  COUNCIL  OF  STATE  OF  NEGOTIATIONS  FOR  ADJUSTMENT 

OF  INTERSTATE  FREIGHT  RATES.     AUGUST  5,  1913 

To  His  Excellency,  Locke  Craig, 

Governor  of  North  Carolina, 

and  the  Council  of  State: 

We  respectfully  report  to  you  the  result  of  our  conference  with  the  interstate 
carriers,  July  22-25,  with  respect  to  interstate  freight  rates;  and  this  being  our 
first  formal  report  on  the  subject,  we  deem  it  well  to  briefly  review  the  negotiations 
which  led  up  to  that  conference. 

Shortly  after  the  conference  between  the  Legislative  Commission  and  the 
carriers  had  been  declared  off  by  the  Legislative  Commission,  on  account  of  a 
suggestion  made  at  the  last  of  those  conferences  by  the  Chairman  of  the  Corpora- 
tion Commission  that  an  adjustment  might  be  reached  if  the  representatives  of 
the  State  and  the  carriers  would  sit  down  together  and  talk  over  the  differences 
informally  and  in  detail,  instead  of  attempting  to  deal  at  arms'  length,  some  of  the 
railroad  officials  requested  the  Corporation  Commission  to  meet  with  them  in  that 
manner,  expressing  the  belief  that  an  agreement  could  be  reached  that  would  be 
acceptable  as  a  settlement  of  the  suits  which  the  Corporation  Commission  had 
brought  against  them  before  the  Interstate  Commerce  Commission  to  reduce  these 
rates,  and  an  adjustment  of  the  whole  matter. 

The  Corporation  Commission  at  once  advised  with  his  Excellency,  the  Gover- 
nor, about  the  matter,  desiring  not  only  to  settle  the  matters  involved  in  the  suits 
it  had  brought,  but  to  cooperate  cordially  with  him  in  carrying  out  what  he  had 
announced  as  a  policy  of  his  administration. 

We  accordingly  at  once  arranged  a  meeting  with  the  carriers,  but  notified 
them  in  the  beginning  that  whatever  agreement  might  be  reached  between  them 
and  the  Commission  would  be  tentative  only,  and  would  not  be  final  or  binding 
either  as  a  compromise  of  our  suits,  or  otherwise,  until  it  was  reported  to  the 
Governor  and  approved  by  him,  after  consultation  with  such  officials  and  per- 
sons as  he  might  think  proper  to  call  into  conference  with  him. 

We  assured  tbe  carriers  of  our  willingness  to  undergo  any  amount  of  labor  to 
work  out  a  just  solution  of  this  important  matter,  and  in  conference  after  confer- 
ence we  have  contended  with  them,  giving  careful  consideration  to  their  views, 
and  earnestly  pressing  upon  them  our  views  and  the  rights  of  the  shippers  of 
Worth  Carolina. 

Progress  was  made  slowly,  the  carriers  making  some  concessions  at  each  con- 
ference, having  begun  with  the  offer  to  the  Legislative  Commission  as  a  basis. 
Finally  the  Commission  told  them  that  unless  they  could  make  up  their  minds 
to  offer  much  more  substantial  reductions,  negotiations  would  be  abandoned  as 
hopeless.  This  led  to  a  request  from  the  presidents  of  the  railway  lines  for  a 
conference  with  the  Governor  and  the  Corporation  Commission,  which  was  granted. 

This  conference  was  held  in  Raleigh  July  15th,  the  Council  of  State  joining 
in  the  same  upon  the  request  of  the  Governor. 


REDUCTION  OF  FREIGHT  RATES  65 

At  this  meeting  the  Corporation  Commission,  upon  request  of  President  Finley, 
speaking  for  the  carriers,  to  suggest  some  general  basis  for  fixing  interstate  rates, 
made  the  following  suggestion : 

That  through  rates  into  North  Carolina  be  constructed  by  the  use  of  propor- 
tional rates  south  of  the  Virginia  gateways,  and  that  the  proportionals  be  fixed 
by  applying  the  Southern  Eailway  Virginia  main  line  mileage  scale  (which  was 
used  by  the  Legislative  Commission  in  making  its  proposition)  to  the  average 
distances  from  the  Virginia  gateways  to  the  respective  rate  zones  as  they  now 
exist,  subject  to  the  condition  that  the  reductions  resulting  to  points  in  North 
Carolina  Eate  Zone  ISTo.  1  (called  the  61-cent  zone)  shall  be  the  maximum  reduc- 
tion for  other  zones ;  except  that  the  reduced  rate  so  made  to  Statesville  should  be 
the  maximum  on  western  traffic  for  all  points  on  the  Southern  Railway  main 
line  west  of  Statesville,  and  that  the  reduction  to  no  point  in  the  State  should  be 
less  than  the  reductions  made  to  points  in  Zone  No.  2  (the  Charlotte  zone). 

And  further,  that  upon  such  important  commodities  as  already  had  car-load 
ratings  up  to  the  Virginia  cities,  car-load  ratings  be  made  south  of  the  Virginia 
cities,  to  be  differentials  below  the  reduced  class  rates. 

The  Commission  stated,  however,  that  in  making  this  suggestion  they  did  not 
wish  to  be  understood  as  believing  that  it  would  result  in  as  much  reduction  in 
the  rates  as  the  State  was  justly  entitled  to,  but  was  in  the  nature  of  a  concession 
made  in  a  spirit  of  compromise. 

The  railway  presidents  then  expressed  strong  belief  that  a  settlement  could 
be  reached  on  this  basis,  and  asked  for  another  meeting  between  the  traffic  man- 
agers and  the  Corporation  Commission.  This  course  being  approved  by  the 
Governor  and  Council  of  State,  the  Commission  met  the  traffic  managers  at  Old 
Point  on  July  22d,  and  were  in  session  four  days. 

We  submit  to  you  below  the  result  of  that  meeting: 

The  Commission  first  took  up  the  adjustment  ot  Western  rates,  and  commenced  with 
this  by  attempting  to  agree  upon  the  rates  to  the  points  in  what  was  termed  Zone  No.  1, 
this  being  the  largest  and  most  representative  rate  zone  in  the  State.  The  existing  rates 
to  most  other  parts  of  the  State  are  made  with  relation  to  these.  It  was,  therefore, 
thought  that  rates  being  once  fixed  to  this  zone,  the  rates  to  all  other  parts  of  the  State 
could  easily  be  adjusted  to  conform  relatively  to  them. 

GREENSBORO— ZONE  No.  1 

This  zone  embraces  all  points  on  the  main  line  of  the  Southern  Railway  from  Winston- 
Salem  to  Goldsboro,  inclusive,  and  from  points  on  the  Southern  Railway  from  Greensboro 
to  Ellisboro,  inclusive.  All  points  on  the  Seaboard  Air  Line  Railway  from  Littleton  to 
Cary,  inclusive,  and  from  Henderson  to  Durham,  including  Oxford;  also  its  branch  line 
to  Louisburg.  All  points  on  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line  Railroad  from  Ruggles  to  Goldsboro, 
inclusive,  and  from  Contentnea  to  Smithfield,  inclusive;  on  its  branch  line  from  Halifax 
to  Kinston,  inclusive,  and  on  its  branch  line  from  Rocky  Mount  to  Spring  Hope,  inclusive. 
Also  from  Rocky  Mount  to  Hobgood,  inclusive,  except  Tarboro.  On  the  Williamston  branch 
from  Mildred  to  Everetts,  inclusive.  On  the  Washington  branch  from  Parmele  to  Grimes, 
inclusive.  Points  on  the  East  Carolina  Railway  between  Henrietta  and  Farmville,  in- 
clusive. Points  on  the  Norfolk  Southern  Railroad  from  Grimesland  to  Raleigh,  inclusive. 
All  points  on  the  Norfolk  Southern  Railroad,  Goldsboro  to  New  Bern,  and  points  between 
New  Bern  and  Washington,  exclusive  of  New  Bern  and  Washington. 

5 


66  LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

The  average  distance  from  the  Virginia  cities  to  all  points  in  this  zone  is  189  miles, 
and  the  existing  rates  from  all  Virginia  cities  are  the  same  to  all  points  in  this  zone, 
and  are  as  follows: 


Grain. 

Flour. 

Potatoes, 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

A 

B 

C 

D 

E 

H 

F 

C.L. 

C.L. 

C.L. 

61 

51 

42 

32 

28 

21 

17 

22 

21 

18 

28 

32 

42 

18 

21 

21 

Upon  the  basis  suggested  by  the  Commission  (as  slightly  modified)  the  proportional 
rates  from  all  the  Virginia  cities  to  all  points  in  this  zone,  to  be  used  in  making  through 
rates,  would  be  as  follows: 


Grain. 

Flour.  Potatoes. 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

A 

B 

C 

D 

E 

H 

F 

C.L. 

C.L.         C.L. 

43 

33 

24 

21 

16 

15 

17 

16 

14 

19 

23 

32 

12 

14             14 

50 

This  would  make  proportional  rates  lower  than  the  local  rates  from  Virginia  cities 
and  reduce  total  through  rates  to  the  following  extent: 


Grain. 

Flour.  Potatoes. 

5 

6 

A 

B 

C 

D 

E 

H 

F 

C.L. 

C.L.        C.L. 

7 

5 

2 

5 

5 

4 

9 

9 

10 

6 

7               7 

After  prolonged  negotiations  and  several  different  offers,  which  were  declined  by  the 
Commission,  the  carriers  offered  as  their  final  figures,  beyond  which  they  expressed 
themselves  as  unwilling  to  go,  proportionals  lower  than  existing  local  rates  from  Vir- 
ginia cities  to  the  following  extent: 


Grain. 

Flour.  Potatoes. 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

A 

B 

C 

D 

E 

H 

F 

C.L. 

C.L.        C.L. 

11 

8 

8 

6 

6 

4 

2 

3 

4 

4 

5 

5 

8 

5 

6               6 

This  would  result  in  total  through  rates  higher  than  those  suggested  by  the  Commis- 
sion to  the  following  extent: 


Grain. 

Flour. 

Potatoes. 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

A 

B 

C 

D 

E 

H 

F 

C.L. 

C.L. 

C.L. 

0 

0 

1 

2 

1 

1 

0 

2 

1 

0 

4 

4 

2 

1 

1 

1 

The  final  offer  of  the  carriers  would  result  in  total  through  rates  from  Cincinnati, 
Ohio,  and  Louisville,  Ky.,  to  all  points  in  this  zone,  compared  with  existing  total  through 
rates,  as  follows: 

Grain  Flour.  Pts.  Special  Iron. 

1      2      3      4      5      6ABCDEHF      C.L.  C.L.  C.L.  C.L.  L.C.L. 

Present 93    79    64    47    40    31    27    37    32    29    42    44    64        29  32         31  27  31 

Proposed 82    71    56    41    34    27    25    34    28    25    37    39    56        24  26         25  25         29 

Reductions 11     886642344558         5  6  6         2  2 

All  rates  from  the  West  to  North  Carolina  territory  are  based  upon  the  rates  from 
Ohio  River  Crossings,  the  principal  ones  of  which  as  affecting  our  territory  are  Cincin- 
nati, Ohio,  and  Louisville,  Ky.  It,  therefore,  follows  that  when  the  rates  are  fixed  from 
Cincinnati  and  Louisville  this  automatically  fixes  the  rates  from  all  western  territory 
beyond  these  points.  It  was  clearly  understood  between  the  Commission  and  the  carriers 
that  the  present  method  of  constructing  rates  from  western  territory  beyond  Cincinnati 
and  Louisville  should  be  continued,  and  that  rates  from  Memphis,  St.  Louis,  and  Nash- 
ville be  revised  so  as  to  preserve  present  relationship. 

It  will  be  noted  that  the  reductions  proposed  are  relatively  greater  on  the  lower 
classes  than  on  first  and  second  class. 

The  following  table  will  show  the  reductions  which  the  proportionals  suggested  by 
the  Commission  would  make  under  the  local  rates  from  Virginia  cities,  both  in  cents  per 
one  hundred  pounds  and  in  percentages: 


REDUCTION  OF  FREIGHT  RATES  67 

Grain.  Flour.  Pts. 

1        2        3        4        5        6ABCDEHF       C.L.  C.L.  C.L. 

Present 61   51   42   32   28   21   17   22   21   18   28   32   42    18     21  21 

Proposed 50   43   33   24   19   16   15   17   16   14   19   23   32    12     14  15 

Reduction 11        89895255499      10  6  7  6 

Percentages:  18      16      21      25      32      23      11      22      23      22      32      28      23         335  33}        28 

Average  Percentage:  24.00. 

The  following  table  will  show  the  reductions  made  by  the  proportionals  offered  by  the 
carriers  under  the  local  rates  from  Virginia  cities,  both  in  cents  per  one  hundred  pounds 
and  in  percentages: 

Grain.  Flour.  Pts.  Special  Iron. 

1      2      3      4      5      6ABCDEHF      C.L.       C.L.  C.L.  C.L.  L.C.L. 

Present 61    51    42    32    28    21    17    22    21     18    28    32    42        18           21  21  17  21 

Proposed 50    43    34    26    22    17    15    19    17    14    23    27    34        13            15  15  15  19 

Reduction 11     886642344558         5  6  6         2  2 

Percentages:        18    16    19    19    21    19    12    14    19    22    18    16    19        2S  29         28 

Average  percentage:  19.80. 

The  fact  that  the  greater  reductions  offered  are  in  the  lower  classes  is  to  the  advan- 
tage of  the  State,  because  of  the  fact  that  nearly  all  of  the  traffic  from  the  "West  is  moved 
under  the  lower  classes,  and  very  little  of  it  is  moved  under  the  higher  classes.  To  illus- 
trate the  practical  effect  of  the  proposed  reductions,  we  mention  some  of  the  principal 
commodities  which  are  moved  in  large  quantities  from  the  West,  the  class  under  which 
they  move,  and  what  the  proposed  reductions  would  amount  to  per  car-load: 

Hay  moves  less  than  car-load  under  fifth  class,  and  the  reduction  being  6  cents  per 
hundred  pounds,  would  amount  to  $1.20  per  ton.  In  car-loads  it  moves  at  grain  rate,  the 
minimum  weight  being  24,000  pounds;  the  reduction  of  5  cents  per  hundred  pounds  would 
save  on  a  car-load  $12. 

Grain  and  grain  products,  other  than  flour,  move  under  Class  D,  less  than  car-loads, 
on  which  there  is  a  reduction  of  4  cents  per  hundred  pounds,  or  22.20  per  cent  lower  than 
the  existing  local  rate.  The  special  car-load  rate  proposed  is  a  reduction  of  5  cents  per 
hundred  pounds  from  existing  local  from  Virginia  cities,  which  is  28  per  cent.  On  a  car- 
load, the  minimum  weight  being  40,000  pounds,  would  save  $20  per  car. 

Flour,  in  sacks,  less  than  car-load,  moves  under  Class  C,  on  which  there  is  a  reduction 
of  4  cents  per  hundred  pounds,  or  19  per  cent,  and  in  barrels  less  than  car-load  it  moves 
under  Class  F,  the  existing  rate  being  42  cents  per  barrel.  The  proposed  reduction  is  8 
cents  per  barrel,  or  19  per  cent.  Car-loads  it  moves  under  the  special  proposed  car-load 
rating,  which  is  a  reduction  of  6  cents  per  hundred  pounds,  which  is  28.60  per  cent.  On 
a  car-load,  minimum  weight  40,000  pounds,  would  save  $24  per  car. 

Canned  goods  of  the  following  description,  namely,  fruit  and  vegetables,  including 
beans  with  pork,  corn,  tomatoes,  peas,  etc.,  in  car-loads  move  under  fifth  class.  The 
reduction  on  this  is  6  cents  per  hundred  pounds  from  the  existing  local  rate  of  28  cents 
per  hundred  pounds,  being  21.40  per  cent.  On  a  car-load  of  36,000  pounds  minimum 
would  save  $21.60  per  car. 

Fresh  meats  of  all  kinds  move  under  fourth  class.  The  reduction  proposed  of  6  cents 
per  hundred  pounds  from  the  existing  local  rate  of  32  cents  per  hundred  pounds,  being 
19  per  cent,  would  save  on  a  car-load,  minimum  weight  20,000  pounds,  $12  per  car. 

Agricultural  implements:  This  class  covers  the  general  run  of  agricultural  implements 
and  machinery,  such  as  disc  harrows,  manure  spreaders,  mowers,  mowing  and  reaping 
machines,  planters,  plows,  plow  bases,  plow  handles,  single-trees,  binders,  pruners,  rakes, 
scythes,  etc.  These  move  in  car-load  lots  under  sixth  class,  upon  which  there  is  a  pro- 
posed reduction  of  4  cents  per  hundred  pounds  from  the  existing  local  of  21  cents,  being 
19  per  cent.  This  reduction  on  a  car-load,  minimum  weight  20,000  pounds,  would  save 
$8  per  car.     Most  of  the  agricultural  implements  in  less  than  car-load  quantities  move 


68    LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

either  under  third  or  fourth  class,  the  reduction  on  third  class  heing  8  cents  per  hundred 
pounds  and  on  fourth  class  6  cents  per  hundred  pounds,  amounting  in  each  instance  to 
about  19  per  cent. 

Wire  fencing  in  less  than  car-load  lots  moves  under  fifth  class,  on  which  there  is  a 
proposed  reduction  of  6  cents  per  hundred  pounds  from  the  existing  local  of  28  cents, 
being  21.40  per  cent.  In  car-loads  it  moves  under  sixth  class,  on  which  there  is  a  pro- 
posed reduction  of  4  cents  per  hundred  pounds  from  the  existing  local  of  21  cents.  This 
would  result  in  a  reduction  on  a  car-load,  minimum  weight  30,000  pounds,  of  $12. 

The  comparison  below  will  show  the  effect  of  the  proposed  reductions  upon  the  North 
Carolina  merchant  and  jobber  in  his  competition  with  merchants  and  jobbers  of  the  Vir- 
ginia cities  in  North  Carolina  territory.  The  rates  from  Cincinnati  and  Louisville  to 
North  Carolina  territory  are  made  by  the  use  of  proportional  rates  from  Cincinnati  and 
Louisville  to  the  Virginia  cities,  then  there  is  added  to  this  proportional  the  rate  from 
Virginia  cities  to  the  North  Carolina  points.  These  proportionals  are  as  shown  in  the 
first  line  of  the  table  below,  and  by  adding  to  them  the  proposed  proportionals  south  of 
Virginia  cities,  shown  in  the  second  line  of  this  table,  we  get  the  total  rates  which  the 
North  Carolina  shipper  must  pay  on  goods  from  Cincinnati  and  Louisville  to  points  in 
Zone  No.  1: 

Grain.  Flour.  Pts.    Special  Iron. 

1      2      3      4      5      6ABCDEHF     C.L.       C.L.  C.L.  C.L.  L.C.L. 

Present 32    28    22    15    12    10    10    15    11     11    14    12    22        11  11  10        10 

Proposed 50    43    34    26    22    17    15    19    17    14    23    27    34        13  15  15        16 

Reduction 82    71    56    41    34    27    25    34    28    25    37    39    56        24  26         25        26 

The  Virginia  cities  merchants  and  jobbers  on  goods  shipped  from  Cincinnati  and  Louis- 
ville to  the  Virginia  cities  to  be  distributed  to  North  Carolina  must  pay  a  higher  rate  up 
to  the  Virginia  cities  than  is  charged  on  shipments  through  to  North  Carolina,  and  in 
addition  to  that  would  have  to  pay  the  full  local  rate  from  the  Virginia  cities  to  the 
North  Carolina  points.  The  following  table  shows,  in  the  first  line,  the  rates  from  Cin- 
cinnati and  Louisville  to  the  Virginia  cities  proper,  which  the  Virginia  cities  merchant 
must  pay,  and  in  the  second  line  the  local  which  he  must  pay  to  the  North  Carolina 
points  in  Zone  No.  1,  and  the  third  line  the  total  cost  to  the  Virginia  merchant  to  reach 
North  Carolina  points  when  distributing  from  the  Virginia  cities  proper: 

12      3      4      5     6 
62     53J     405     275     23     181 
61     51     42     32     28     21 

123     1045     S25     595     51     395 

The  difference,  therefore,  in  favor  of  the  North  Carolina  shipper  is  as  shown  in  the 
table  below: 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

123 

1045 

825 

595 

51 

395 

82 

71 

56 

41 

34 

27 

41  331  265  18J  17  125 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  difference  in  favor  of  the  North  Carolina  shipper  is  such  that 
he  can  ship  back  to  territory  around  him  under  the  North  Carolina  scale  to  distances 
ranging  from  40  to  60  miles  before  meeting  the  rates  which  the  Virginia  cities  man  has 
to  pay. 

This  advantage  to  the  North  Carolina  merchant  applies  to  this  extent  only  in  respect 
to  shipments  originating  at  Cincinnati  and  Louisville  and  other  Ohio  River  Crossings. 
The  difference  is  not  so  great  in  his  favor  on  shipments  from  points  beyond  Cincinnati 
and  Louisville,  for  the  reason  that  on  such  shipments  the  proportional  rate  in  our  favor 
as  against  the  Virginia  cities  of  30  cents  less  than  the  rate  to  Virginia  cities  proper  is 


REDUCTION  OF  FREIGHT  RATES  69 

reduced  to  a  differential  in  our  favor  of  only  5  cents  per  one  hundred  pounds  at  Chicago. 
For  instance,  on  shipments  from  Chicago  territory  the  rates  to  Virginia  cities,  together 
with  the  local  thence  to  North  Carolina  points,  are  as  follows: 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

72 

62 

47 

32 

27 

22 

61 

51 

42 

32 

28 

21 

133  113  89  64  55  43 

On  shipments  to  North   Carolina  points   using  the  proposed  proportionals   south  of 
Virginia  cities  would  cost  the  North  Carolina  merchant  as  follows: 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

67 

58 

44 

30 

25 

20 

50 

43 

34 

26 

22 

17 

117  101  78  56  47  37 

Resulting  in  total  differences  in  favor  of  the  North  Carolina  shipper  on  shipments 
from  Chicago  territory  as  follows: 

1  2  3  4  5  6 

16  12  11  8  8  6 

Note. — These  comparisons  are  made  only  upon  the  six  numbered  classes,  for  the 
reason  that  shipments  from  Chicago  to  Virginia  cities  are  covered  by  official  classifica- 
tion, which  carries  only  the  six  numbered  classes. 

CHARLOTTE— ZONE  No.  2 

This  zone  includes  all  territory  on  the  Southern  Railway  main  line  from  Lexington 
to  Charlotte,  including  all  points  between  Salisbury  and  Statesville,  all  points  on  the 
Mooresville  branch  between  Winston-Salem  and  Charlotte,  exclusive  of  Winston-Salem. 
On  its  branch  line  from  High  Point  to  Asheboro,  not  including  High  Point;  all  points 
on  the  Greensboro-Sanford  branch;  all  points  Climax  to  Ramseur,  and  Salisbury  to 
Norwood.  All  points  on  the  Winston-Salem  Southbound  between  Winston-Salem  and 
Wadesboro,  not  including  Winston-Salem.  All  points  on  the  Seaboard  Air  Line  from 
Apex  to  Charlotte  via  Hamlet  and  Monroe,  inclusive;  its  branch  line  from  Moncure  to 
Pittsboro.  All  points  on  the  Randolph  and  Cumberland  from  Cameron  to  Carthage.  All 
points  on  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line  from  Goldsboro  to  Wrightsboro,  not  including  Golds- 
boro;  on  its  branch  line  Warsaw  to  Clinton;  on  its  main  line  from  Four  Oaks  to  Fayette- 
ville,  inclusive;  on  its  line  from  Fayetteville  to  Sanford.  All  points  on  the  Raleigh, 
Charlotte  and  Southern  from  Asheboro  to  Aberdeen,  including  Mount  Gilead  branch  and 
its  line  from  Colon  to  Star. 

The  average  distance  to  all  points  in  this  zone  is  235  miles. 

The  Commission  suggested  that  through  rates  to  this  zone  be  constructed  by  the  use 
of  proportionals  from  the  Virginia  cities,  which  should  be  less  than  the  existing  local 
rates  to  the  following  extent: 


Grain. 

Flour.  Potatoes. 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

A 

B 

C 

D 

E 

H 

F 

C.L. 

C.L.        C.L. 

11 

8 

9 

8 

7 

5 

2 

5 

5 

4 

9 

9 

10 

6 

7              6 

The  carriers'  final  proposition  was  to  make  the  proportionals  from  the  Virginia  cities 
to  this  zone  less  than  existing  local  rates  to  the  following  extent: 


l 
11 


Grain. 

Flour. 

Potatoes. 

5 

6 

A 

B 

C 

D 

E 

H 

F 

C.L. 

C.L. 

C.L. 

6 

4 

2 

3 

4 

4 

5 

5 

8 

5 

6 

6 

The  final  proposition  of  the  carriers  would  result  in  through  rates  from  Cincinnati 
and  Louisville,  to  all  points  in  this  zone,  compared  with  existing  rates,  as  follows: 


70  LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

Grain.  Flour.  Pts. 

1         23456ABCDEHF       C.L.  C.L.  C.L. 

Present... 100   86   70   53   45   35   28   39   34   31   47   50   68    31     34  35 

Proposed 89   78   62   47   39   31   26   36   30   27   42   45   60    26     28  29 

Reduction 11        886642344558  5  6  6 

This  would  make  the  proportionals  from  the  Virginia  cities  and  the  total  through 
rates  to  this  zone  higher  than  suggested  by  the  Commission  to  the  following  extent: 

Grain.     Flour.  Potatoes. 
1         2         3         4         5         6ABCDEHF         C.L.        C.L.        C.L. 
0012110210442  1  1  0 

HOPE  MILLS— ZONE  No.  3 

This  zone  is  composed  of  all  points  on  the  Seaboard  Air  Line  between  Wilmington 
and  Hamlet,  not  including  Wilmington  and  Hamlet;  all  points  on  the  Atlantic  Coast 
Line  between  Wilmington  and  Fayetteville,  exclusive  of  Wilmington  and  Fayetteville; 
all  points  on  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line  between  Hope  Mills  and  Pembroke,  inclusive,  and 
from  Parkton  to  Maxton;  all  points  on  the  Virginia  and  Carolina  Southern  north  of 
Lumberton,  and  all  points  on  the  Aberdeen  and  Rockfish  Railroad. 

The  Commission  deeming  the  existing  rates  to  this  zone  as  relatively  higher  than  the 
existing  rates  to  the  two  preceding  zones,  asked  for  greater  reductions  to  all  points  in 
it  than  had  been  suggested  to  Zones  1  and  2,  in  order  to  put  the  same  in  proper  relation 
with  them.  The  carriers,  however,  were  very  firmly  opposed  to  granting  any  greater 
reductions  to  this  territory  than  the  same  reductions  in  each  class  as  should  be  given 
to  Zone  No.  2. 

The  existing  rates  to  this  zone  from  the  Virginia  cities  are  as  follows: 

Grain.     Flour.  Potatoes. 
123456ABCDEHF         C.L.        C.L.        C.L. 
80        70        60        50        40        32        22        28        25        22        41        47        50  22  25  32 

The  final  proportional  rates  proposed  by  the  carriers  from  the  Virginia  cities  to  this 
zone  were:  _    . 

Grain.     Flour.  Potatoes. 
123456ABCDEHF         C.L.        C.L.        C.L. 
69        62        52        44        34        2S        20        25        21        18        36        42        42  17  19  26 


Resulting  in  the  following  reductions: 

1  2         3         4         5  6         A        B 

11         886642344558  5  6  6 


Grain.     Flour.   Potatoes. 
12345         6ABCDEHF         C.L.        C.L.        C.L. 


The  present  rates  to  this  zone  from  Cincinnati  and  Louisville  are  as  shown  below, 
and  those  which  would  result  from  the  proportionals  offered  by  the  carriers: 

Grain.  Flour.  Pts. 

1         2345        6ABCDEHF       C.L.  C.L.  C.L. 

Present 112      9S      S2      65      52      42      32      43      36      33      55      59      72         33           35  42 

Proposed 101      90      74      59      46      38      30      40      32      29      50      54      64         28           30  36 

Reduction 11        886642344558  5  5  6 

GIBSON— ZONE  No.  4 

This  zone  embraces  all  points  on  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line  from  Wilmington  to  Pair 
Bluff,  exclusive  of  Wilmington,  and  all  other  points  between  the  Seaboard  Air  Line  from 
Wilmington  to  Monroe  and  the  South  Carolina  line. 

The  carriers'  final  proposition  was  reductions  to  points  in  this  zone  as  follows: 

12         3         4         5 
5  5         5         5         2 


Grain. 

Flour. 

Potatoes. 

A 

B 

C 

D 

E 

H 

F 

C.L. 

C.L. 

C.L. 

1 

1 

2 

2 

2 

2 

4 

3 

4 

3 

REDUCTION  OF  FREIGHT  RATES  71 

GASTONIA  AND  POINTS  SOUTH  OP  CHARLOTTE 
The  carriers'  final  proposition  offered  the  following  reductions: 


Grain. 

Flour. 

Potatoes. 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

A 

B 

C 

D 

E 

H 

F 

C.L. 

C.L. 

C.L. 

s 

5 

5 

5 

3 

I 

1 

1 

4 

4 

2 

6 

2 

5 

6 

3 

The  use  of  the  proportionals  made  by  these  reductions  would  make  through  rates 
from  Cincinnati  and  Louisville,  compared  with  existing  rates,  as  follows: 

Grain.  Flour.  Pts. 

1         2345        6ABCDEHF       C.L.       C.L.  C.L. 

Present 112   98   82   65   52   42   32   43   36   33   55   59   72    33     36  42 

Proposed 107   93   77   60   50   41   31   42   34   31   53   57   68    30     32  39 


Reduction 5555211122224  3  4  3 

Existing  rates  to  Gastonia  are  higher  than  Gibson  1  cent  in  fifth  class  and  2  cents 
each  in  Classes  C  and  D,  and  reductions  were  made  so  as  to  make  the  proposed  new 
rates  the  same. 

The  carriers  declined  to  make  greater  reductions  in  these  zones,  because  it  would 
make  such  abrupt  differences  between  points  in  it  and  points  just  across  the  line  in 
South  Carolina. 

WEST  OF  STATESVILLE 

The  Commission  suggested  that  on  western  traffic  the  new  rates  to  Statesville  be  the 
maxima  for  all  main  line  points  west  of  Statesville,  for  the  reason  that  these  points 
all  being  nearer  to  Cincinnati  and  Louisville,  on  the  same  line  of  railroad,  than  States- 
ville, ought  not  to  pay  any  higher  rate. 

The  Commission  also  intended  this  to  apply  to  Lincolnton,  Shelby,  and  Rutherford- 
ton,  and  all  intermediate  points. 

If  this  suggestion  had  been  followed  it  would  have  resulted  in  very  large  reductions, 
greater  than  in  any  other  part  of  the  State,  as  the  present  rates  to  this  territory  are 
relatively  very  high.  For  example,  the  reduction  to  Marion,  which  is  the  highest  rate 
point,  under  the  proposal  of  the  Commission  would  have  been: 


Grain. 

Flour. 

Potatoes, 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

A 

B 

C 

D 

E 

H 

F 

C.L. 

C.L. 

C.L. 

26 

24 

23 

20 

15 

14 

6 

9 

9 

4 

16 

19 

12 

5 

11 

16 

The  carriers  declined  to  grant  these  reductions,  and  offered  specific  through  rates  to 
these  points,-  together  with  a  list  of  commodity  rates. 

HICKORY  AND  LINCOLNTON 

The  reductions  proposed  by  the  carriers  to  these  points  are: 

Grain.     Flour.  Potatoes. 
12345  6ABCDEHF         C.L.         C.L.         C.L. 

11         555311241464  2  6  3 

These  would  result  in  the  following  total  rates  from  Cincinnati  and  Louisville: 

Grain.     Flour.  Potatoes. 
1  2         3         4         5  6ABCDEHF         C.L.         C.L.         C.L. 

101      93        77        60       50        41        31        42        34        31        53        57        68  30  32  39 

MARION  GROUP 

The  carriers'  final  offer  proposed  to  fix  through  rates  from  Cincinnati  and  Louisville 
to  Marion,  which  should  be  the  maxima  to  all  points  between  Marion  and  Asheville,  and 


72  LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

which    should    also    apply   to    Shelby,    Rutherfordton,    Morganton,    Hendersonville,    and 
Waynesville,  and  be  a  maxima  to  points  intermediate. 
The  through  rates  so  proposed  by  them  are: 


Grain. 

Flour.  Potatoes. 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

A 

B 

c 

D 

E 

H 

F 

C.L. 

C.L.    C.L. 

106 

93 

78 

63 

52 

41 

31 

42 

34 

31 

S3 

57 

63 

30 

32     39 

Compared  to  existing  rates  to  Marion,  they  make  the  following  reductions: 

Grain.   Flour.  Pts. 

1         23456ABCDEHF       C.L.       C.L.  C.L. 

Present 116  102   86   67   55   47   32   47   39   31   5S   64   72    31     39  47 

Proposed. 105   93   78   63   52   41   31   42   34   31   53   57   68    30     32  39 

Reduction 11        984361550574            1             7  8 

SHELBY  AND  RUTHERFORDTON 

Application  of  the  proposed  Marion  rates  to  these  points  would  make  the  following 
reductions,  and  apply  to  all  intermediate  points: 

Grain.    Flour.  Pts. 

12        34       5       6ABCDEHF       C.L.       C.L.  C.L. 

Present 116  102   86   66   55   44   34   47   39   36   59   65   77    36     39  44 

Proposed 105   93   78   63   52   41   31   42   34   31   53   57   68    30     32  39 


Reduction 11        983353555689  6  7  5 

MORGANTON 

Observance  of  the  proposed  Marion  rates  to  Morganton,  which  would  apply  to  inter- 
mediate points,  would  result  as  follows: 


Flour.    Pts. 


12         3456ABCDEH 

Present 116    102      86      67      55      47      33      47      39      31      59      65 

Proposed 105      93      78      63      52      41      31      42      34      31      53      57 


F 

C.L. 

C.L. 

C.L, 

73 

31 

39 

47 

68 

30 

32 

39 

Reduction 11        984362550685  1  7  8 

WAYNESVILLE  AND  HENDERSONVILLE 
Observance  of  the  Marion  rates  as  maxima  to  these  points  would  result  as  follows: 

Grain.  Flour.  Pts. 

12         3456ABCDEHF       C.L.  C.L.  C.L. 

Present 116  102   88   72   59   49   32   47   39   30   56   63   71    30     39  49 

Proposed 105   93   78   63   52   41   31   42   34   28   53   57   68    26     31  39 

Reduction 11        9      10        9781552363  4  8  10 

The  Commission  requested  the  carriers  to  offer  to  points  just  mentioned,  viz.,  Hick- 
ory, Lincolnton,  Shelby,  Rutherfordton,  Morganton,  Marion,  Newton,  and  intermediate 
points,  the  following  rates,  which  they  declined  to  do: 

Grain.     Flour. 
1  23456ABCDF         C.L.        C.L. 

103  89  75  60  50  38  30  40  32  30  63  27  28 

The  final  rates  offered  by  the  carriers  are  higher  than  these  to  the  following  extent: 

243323122103  4 


Grain. 

Flour.  Potatoes. 

5 

6 

A 

B 

C 

D 

E 

H 

F 

C.L. 

C.L.    C.L. 

7 

5 

2 

5 

5 

4 

9 

9 

10 

6 

7      5 

REDUCTION  OF  FREIGHT  RATES  73 

ASHEVILLE 

The  basis  suggested  by  the  Commission  would  have  made  the  reduction  in  the  Ashe- 
ville  rates  the  same  as  proposed  to  Statesville,  viz.: 

l        2       3 

10       8        9        : 

But  the  carriers  would  only  consent  to  lower  the  rates  to  the  extent  shown  in  the 
following  table: 

Grain.  Flour.  Pts. 

1        2        3        4        5        6ABCDEHF       C.L.       C.L.  C.L. 

Present... 99   88   77   65   55   46   28   43   36   27   52   58   63    27     52  46 

Proposed 94   84   75   62   52   41   26   36   30   25   47   53   58    24     44  39 

Reduction 5423352762555  3  8  7 

To  compensate  in  some  degree  for  the  refusal  to  grant  the  reduction  asked,  they 
offered  a  quite  advantageous  list  of  commodity  rates,  lower  than  the  class  rates,  which 
is  attached  to  the  report  of  the  carriers,  which  accompanies  our  report. 

The  reason  assigned  by  the  carriers  for  not  granting  greater  reductions  to  Asheville 
were  that  the  rates  proposed  are  lower  than  the  rates  from  Cincinnati  to  Atlanta,  Ashe- 
ville being  439  miles  and  Atlanta  487  miles  from  Cincinnati;  and  also  that  further  reduc- 
tions would  compel  great  reductions  in  rates  on  the  Southern  lines  into  Tennessee  and 
South  Carolina. 

We  find  that  some  of  the  proposed  class  and  commodity  rates  are  above  and  some 
below  Atlanta  rates,  the  difference  not  being  great.  The  comparison  of  class  rates  being 
as  follows: 

123  45  6ABCDEHF 

Atlanta 98        87        78        63        52        41        28        36        28        24        48        48        48 

Proposed  Asheville 94        84        75        62        52        41        26        36        30        25        47        53        68 

WILMINGTON  AND  OTHER  POINTS 

The  Commission  urged  reductions  to  Wilmington  and  other  water  competitive  points 
on  the  coast  of  North  Carolina — not  to  the  same  extent,  but  with  some  relation  to  the 
reductions  to  inland  points,  in  order  to  measurably  preserve  present  relations;  but  the 
carriers  declined  to  make  any  reductions  to  these  points. 

Wilmington  rates  from  Cincinnati  and  Louisville,  on  account  of  water  competition, 
are  lower  than  to  other  parts  of  the  State,  and  are  as  follows: 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

A 

B 

C 

D 

E 

H 

F 

82 

68 

53 

41 

32 

25 

19 

27 

23 

21 

36 

32 

46 

With  car-load  rate  on  grain  and  flour  of  20  cents. 
The  following  rates  were  suggested: 

4203211231402 

With  the  understanding  that  relative  reductions  also  be  made  to  the  other  water 
points,  viz.:  Morehead  City,  Beaufort,  New  Bern,  Washington,  Plymouth,  Edenton,  and 
Elizabeth  City. 

These  points  now  have  rates  from  Virginia  cities,  beginning  with  first  class:  More- 
head  City  and  Beaufort,  53  cents;  New  Bern,  46  cents;  Washington,  45  cents;  Plymouth, 
45  cents;  Edenton,  38  cents;  Elizabeth  City,  30  cents;  the  last  two  being  from  Norfolk 
only. 


74  LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

POINTS  BETWEEN  ZONE  No.  1  AND  VIRGINIA  LINE 

Much  controversy  was  had  over  rates  from  points  between  Zone  No.  1  and  the  Vir- 
ginia line,  they  never  having  been  treated  on  the  same  zone  basis. 

These  include  points  on  Southern  Railway  between  Greensboro  and  the  State  line, 
including  Reidsville;  points  on  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line  and  Seaboard  Air  Line  Rail- 
ways from  Weldon  to  State  line,  inclusive;  points  on  Seaboard  Air  Line  Railway  from 
Boykin,  Va.,  to  Lewiston;  points  on  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line  Railroad  from  Hobgood  to 
Virginia  State  line,  and  points  on  the  Norfolk  Southern  from  Washington  to  Virginia 
State  line;  and  on  the  Norfolk  and  Western  between  Winston-Salem  and  the  Virginia 
State  line,  and  Durham  and  the  Virginia  line. 

This  territory  generally  has  rates  beginning  at  55  cents  first  class  to  points  nearest 
to  Zone  No.  1  (which  has  a  61  cents  rate)  and  scaling  down  slightly  to  points  near  the 
Virginia  line. 

The  Commission  contended  that  the  rates  in  all  this  territory  be  so  reduced  that  they 
would  be  the  same  percentage  of  the  proposed  new  rates  that  they  are  of  existing  rates, 
which  would  put  the  55  cents  points  down  to  45  cents  and  proportionately  reduce  the 
others. 

The  carriers  were  firm  in  their  refusal  to  do  this,  and  would  only  agree  to  so  reduce 
them  that  the  rates  to  no  point  in  this  territory  should  be  higher  than  rates  to  Zone 
No.  1,  which  has  the  effect  of  putting  rates  to  55  cents  points,  such  as  Weldon  and  Lewis- 
ton,  and  52  cents  points,  such  as  Reidsville  and  Rich  Square,  on  50  cents  basis,  the  same 
as  proposed  to  Zone  No.  1,  resulting  in  relatively  much  smaller  reductions  to  this  terri- 
tory than  to  other  parts  of  the  State. 

The  view  of  the  Commission  was  that  these  points,  on  account  of  their  closer  prox- 
imity to  the  Virginia  cities,  were  entitled  to  have  lower  rates  from  them  than  Zone  No.  1, 
as  they  have  always  had. 

NORTHERN  AND  EASTERN  RATES 

The  Commission  suggested  adjustment  of  these  rates  by  use  of  proportionals  south  of 
Virginia  cities  in  the  same  manner  as  was  proposed  as  to  western  rates. 

The  carriers,  however,  would  not  seriously  entertain  this,  for  the  reason,  as  claimed 
by  them,  that  it  would  destroy  the  relation  of  rates  as  between  the  markets  north  of 
us,  and  cited  as  illustrative  of  this  that  it  would  make  the  difference  in  rates  from 
Baltimore  to  North  Carolina  points  and  from  Richmond  to  the  same  points  only  5  cents, 
which  would  afford  just  ground  of  complaint  to  Richmond. 

The  carriers  proposed  to  observe  combinations  of  current  locals  on  Norfolk,  Rich- 
mond, Lynchburg,  and  Roanoke,  and  to  observe  combination  of  all-rail  rates  from 
interior  points,  and  assert  that  this  would  result  in  substantial  relief  on  important 
commodities,  as  partially  illustrated  in  their  report,  herewith  sent,  page  28. 

BUFFALO-PITTSBURG  DISTRICT 

The  Commission  suggested  that  rates  from  Buffalo-Pittsburg  District  be  also  adjusted 
by  the  use  of  proportionals  south  of  Virginia  cities,  as  had  been  suggested  as  to  western 
rates.  The  carriers,  however,  declared  that  they  were  not  then  prepared  to  deal  with 
that  question: 

1.  Because  they  did  not  have  with  them  tariffs  which  would  enable  them  to  deter- 
mine the  effect  of  that  basis;  and 

2.  Because  they  could  not  determine  that  question  without  consulting  their  eastern 
connections,  opportunity  for  which  had  not  been  had. 

They  agreed,  however,  to  take  the  suggestion  under  consideration,  expressing  a  belief, 
however,  that  that  method  of  adjustment  would  be  impracticable. 


REDUCTION  OF  FREIGHT  RATES  75 

SOUTHERN  RATES 

The  carriers  agreed  to  undertake  the  revision  of  rates  on  bananas  in  car-loads  to 
North  Carolina  territory,  involving  reductions  to  representative  points  as  follows: 

Raleigh    11  cents  per  cwt. 

Greensboro     11  cents  per  cwt. 

Salisbury     12  cents  per  cwt. 

Charlotte    13  cents  per  cwt. 

Asheville    13  cents  per  cwt. 

Other  adjustments  were  taken  up  and  discussed,  but  no  conclusion  made  in  respect 
to  them,  particularly  a  desired  reduction  in  the  coal  rates  to  North  Carolina. 

After  failure  of  the  carriers  and  the  Commission  to  reach  an  entire  agreement  in 
respect  to  western  rates,  it  seemed  difficult  to  enter  earnestly  into  consideration  about 
other  matters.  With  the  western  rates  once  agreed  upon,  it  is  our  opinion  that  other 
matters  can  be  taken  up  much  more  successfully,  and  that  an  agreement  upon  the  first 
important  matter  of  difference  would  be  a  strong  inducement  towards  the  settlement  of 
others. 

It  was  understood  that  in  the  event  of  an  adjustment  of  rates,  the  rates  on  all  branch 
lines  and  to  all  points  not  herein  mentioned  should  be  so  revised  that  they  would  bear 
the  same  relation  to  the  proposed  new  rates  that  they  do  to  the  existing  rates. 

It  was  further  understood  that  the  proposed  adjustment  should  not  have  the  effect  of 
raising  any  rates  at  any  points  which  are  now  lower  than  this  adjustment,  this  agree- 
ment having  special  reference  to  Fayetteville. 

CONCLUSION 

The  Corporation  Commission  makes  no  recommendation  in  respect  to  the 
matters  set  out  in  this  report,  for  the  reason  that  it  has  not  itself  reached  a  con- 
clusion about  the  matter,  and  does  not  desire  to  do  so  until  it  has  had  the  advan- 
tage of  consultation  with  the  Governor,  the  Council  of  State,  the  Legislative  Com- 
mission, and  such  other  persons  and  organizations  as  the  Governor  may  think 
proper  to  call  into  conference  upon  the  matter,  and  for  the  further  reason  that 
the  Commission  deems  it  desirable  that  whatever  conclusion  may  be  reached  upon 
the  matter  shall  be,  if  possible,  harmonious. 

The  Commission  had  with  it  in  this  conference  the  assistance  and  advice  of 
Mr.  J.  L.  Graham,  of  Winston-Salem,  ~N.  C,  regarded  by  us  as  one  of  the  ablest 
and  most  experienced  rate  experts  in  the  State  not  associated  with  the  railroads. 
His  services  were  of  great  value  to  us. 

We  herewith  hand  you  the  detailed  report  of  the  negotiations  submitted  by 
the  carriers.  Respectfully  submitted, 

E.  L.  Travis,  Chairman. 
W.  T.  Lee,  Commissioner. 
George  P.  Pell,  Commissioner. 
A.  J.  Maxwell,  Clerk. 


76  LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

MEMORANDUM    OF    CONFERENCE    AT 

HOTEL   CHAMBERLIN,   OLD  POINT   COMFORT,  VIRGINIA 

JULY  22  TO  25,  1913,  INCLUSIVE 

BETWEEN 

Chairman  Travis,  Commissioners  Lee,  Pell,  and  Secretaet  Maxwell,  of  the  North 
Carolina  Corporation  Commission;  J.  L.  Graham  of  Winston-Salem,  N.  C,  in 
Advisory  Capacity 

AND 

C  R.  Capps,  V.  P.         ) 

_  _  J.  Seaboard  Ant  Line  Railway 

G.  S.  Rains,  G.  F.  A.    I 

R.  A.  Brand,  V.  P.         ) 

>  Atlantic  Coast  Line  Railway 
J.  W.  Perrin,  G.  F.  A.  ) 

J.  R.  Ruffin,  F.  T.  M.,  Norfolk  and  Western  Railway 
E.  D.  Kyle,  T.  M.,  Norfolk  Southern  Railroad 


J.  M.  Culp,  V.  P. 
L.  Green,  F.  T.  M. 


Southern  Railway  Company 


This  conference  was  held  in  pursuance  of  suggestion  made  by  the  Railway  Execu- 
tives in  conference  with  Governor  Craig,  members  of  the  North  Carolina  Corporation 
Commission,  and  Council  of  State,  in  Raleigh,  N.  C,  July  15,  1913,  as  follows: 

Mr.  FINLEY:  "I  suggest,  having  in  mind,  and  I  am  sure  the  other  officers  here  of 
the  other  railroads  feel  that  way  about  it,  that  we  have  reached  a  point  from  which  I 
think  we  can  take  hold  of  this  question  again.  I  think  we  are  getting  to  look  at  this 
question  somewhat  alike  in  the  way  of  an  adjustment.  The  best  thing  to  do  now  is  for 
the  committee,  the  representatives  of  the  State,  to  meet  with  the  railroads  and  see  what 
they  can  work  out  now  from  what  has  been  discussed,  what  has  been  submitted,  and 
with  the  assurance  that  they  will  do  that — that  something  shall  be  done  in  a  short  time. 
If  the  Commissioners  and  the  Traffic  Officers  of  the  railways  are  not  able  to  agree,  the 
Executive  Officers  will  again  meet  here.  I  make  this  suggestion  because  I  think  it  is 
the  best  way  to  get  results.  I  think  the  Traffic  Officers  should  get  together  very 
promptly." 

The  matter  that  had  been  "submitted"  was  a  basis  proposed  by  the  North  Carolina 
Corporation  Commission  for  the  construction  of  rates  from  the  West  to  North  Carolina 
points,  namely: 

That  said  rates  be  made  by  the  use  of  proportional  rates  south  of  Virginia  gateways, 
applying  Southern  Railway  Virginia  main-line  mileage  scale  for  the  average  distances 
from  the  Virginia  gateways  to  the  respective  North  Carolina  rate  zones  as  they  now 
exist,  subject  to  the  condition  that  the  reductions  resulting  to  points  in  North  Carolina 
Rate  Zone  No.  1  (the  zone  to  which  the  scale  of  local  rates  from  Virginia  cities,  begin- 
ning with  61  cents,  first  class,  now  applies),  shall  be  the  maximum  reduction  for  other 
North  Carolina  rate  zones;  except  that  the  reduced  rates  to  Statesville,  N.  C,  should 
be  the  maximum  for  points  on  Southern  Railway  main  line  west  of  Statesville,  and 
that  no  reduction  to  any  point  in  the  State  should  be  less  than  the  reduction  made  to 
points  in  Zone  No.  2,  Charlotte,  etc. 

A  suggestion  was  also  made  by  the  Commission  at  the  conference  in  Raleigh,  July 
15th,  that  commodity  rates  should  be  established  on  important  articles  in  car-load  lots, 


REDUCTION  OF  FREIGHT  RATES  77 

differentials  below  the  reduced  class  rates,  but  no  definite  suggestion  was  made  at  the 
Raleigh  conference  as  to  the  measure  of  these  differentials. 

At  the  present  conference  at  Old  Point,  July  22-25th,  the  Commission  proposed  that 
as  to  grain  and  grain  products,  car-load  rates  should  be  made  2  cents  per  hundred 
pounds  lower  than  the  reduced  rates  on  Classes  C,  D,  and  F,  respectively,  and  that  a 
commodity  rate  be  also  established  on  potatoes  in  car-loads  a  differential  below  the 
reduced  class  rate. 

The  special  iron  rates  included  in  this  memorandum,  except  those  to  Asheville  and 
other  western  North  Carolina  points,  were  not  a  subject  of  discussion  at  the  confer- 
ences. They  were  inserted  in  response  to  a  request  of  the  Commission  just  prior  to 
adjournment,  and  the  reductions  shown  are  the   suggestion  of  the   carriers: 

Predicated  on  the  basis  outlined  by  the  Commission,  rates  from  Cincinnati  and 
Louisville  to  representative  points  in  North  Carolina,  would  be  reduced  as   follows: 

TO   GREENSBORO— ZONE  No.  1 

Gr.     Fir.    Pts.      Spl.  Iron. 
1      2      3      4      5      6ABCDEHF    C.L.  C.L.   C.L.   C.L.   L.C.L. 
Present  rates  from 

Cincinnati     and 

Louisville 93    79    64    47    40    31    27    37    32    29    42    44    64      29'       32        31        27         31 

From  Virginia 

Cities  proper....    61    51    42    32    28    21    17    22    21    18    28    32    42      IS        21        21        17  21 

Southern  Railway 

Va.  main-iine 

mileage  scale  for 

189  miles 50    43    33    23    19    16    15    19    16    14    19    23    32      14        16        16        16  16 

Reduction 11      89995235499    10        4         5         5  1  5 

The  Commission  modified  its  request  as  to  the  measure  of  reduction  to  points  in 
Zone  1,  to  the  extent  of  1  cent  on  fourth  and  2  cents  on  fifth  class.  As  modified,  the 
carriers  were  asked  to  make  the  following  reductions: 

Grain.   Flour.  Potatoes.  Special  Iron. 
1  23456ABCDEHF      C.L.       C.L.         C.L.        C.L.    L.C.L. 

11         89875255499       10         6  7  5  1  5 

The  carriers  after  thorough  consideration  of  the  reductions  proposed  by  the  Com- 
mission, sought  the  latter's  acceptance  of  the  following: 

Grain.  Flour.  Potatoes.  Special  Iron. 
1  2  3  4  5  6ABCDEHF  C.L.  C.L.  C.L.  C.L.  L.C.L. 
98754223224544  5  4  2  2 

which  the  Commission  declined. 

Subsequently  and  finally,   the  carriers  presented  the   following  figures: 

Grain.  Flour.  Potatoes.  Special  Iron. 
123456ABCDEHF  C.L.  C.L.  C.L.  C.L.  L.C.L. 
11       8765423445585  6  4  2  2 

The  Commission  offered  to  report  without  recommendation  to  the  Governor,  for 
his  consideration,  the  following  figures,  if  the  carriers  would  offer  them  as  a  propo- 
sition: _    . 

Grain.  Flour.  Potatoes.  Special  Iron. 
12345  6ABCDEHF  C.L.  C.L.  C.L.  C.L.  L.C.L. 
11       8877424445585  6  4  2  2 

The  carriers  announced  that  the  reductions  represented  by  their  final  figures  were 
all  that  they  could  make.  On  basis  of  these,  the  comparison  as  to  rates  from  Cincin- 
nati and  Louisville  to  points  in  Zone  1  is  as  follows:        „    . 

Gram.  Flour.  Pts.  Special  Iron. 

12345      6ABCDEHF     C.L.  C.L.  C.L.  C.L.  L.C.L. 

Present _.  93  79  64  47  40  31  27  37  32  29  42  44  64   29     32  31   27    31 

Proposed 82  71  57  41  35  27  25  34  28  25  37  39  56   24     26  27   25    29 


78    LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

TO  CHARLOTTE— ZONE  No.  2 

The  basis  proposed  by   tbe  Commission,  viz..   Southern   Railway  Virginia  main-line 
scale  for  an  average  distance  of  235  miles,  would  produce  the  following  results: 

1      2      3      4      5      6ABCDEHF 

Present  locals  from  Virginia  cities  proper 68    58    48    38    33    25    18    24    23    20    33    38    46 

Southern  Ry.  Va.  mileage  scale  (or  235  miles. 58    48    38    27    24    18    18    23    17    15    24    27    34 


s 

6 

A 

B 

C 

D 

E 

H 

F 

7 

S 

0 

1 

5 

4 

9 

9 

10 

Reductions 10    10    10    11      9      7      0      1      6      5      9    11     12 

Modified  by  the  provision  that  reductions  to  Zone  1  should  be  maxima  to  Zone  2, 
the  figures  would  be  as  follows: 

12  3  4 

10  8  9  8 

The  reductions  proposed  by  the  Commission  at  the  present  conference  were: 

Grain.  Flour.  Potatoes.  Special  Iron. 
1  2  3  4  5  6ABCDEHF  C.L.  C.L.  C.L.  C.L.  L.C.L. 
10       89875255499       10         6  7  5  0  6 

The  carriers  submitted  for  the  Commission's  acceptance  the  following: 

Grain.  Flour.  Potatoes.  Special  Iron. 
1  2  3  4  5  6ABCDEHF  C.L.  C.L.  C.L.  C.L.  L.C.L. 
98754201224544  5  4  0  2 

The  Commission  declined  to  accept  these  figures. 

Subsequently  and  finally,   the  carriers  submitted  the  following: 

Gr„in.  Flour.  Potatoes.  Special  Iron. 
1       2       3       4       5       6ABCDEHF      C.L.      C.L.        C.L.       C.L.  L.C.L. 

10  8765421445585  6  4  2  3 

The  Commission  offered  to  report  without  recommendation  to  the  Governor,  for  his 
consideration,  the  following  figures,  if  the  carriers  would  offer  them  as  a  proposition: 

Grain.  Flour.  Potatoes.  Special  Iron. 
1       2       3       4       5       6ABCDEHF      C.L.      C.L.        C.L.       C.L.  L.C.L. 

11  887742444558  5  6  4  2  4 

The  carriers  announced  that  the  figures  they  had  finally  submitted  represented  the 
limit  beyond  which  they  could  not  go. 

The  following  is  a  comparison  of  present  rates  from  Cincinnati  and  Louisville  to 
Charlotte  with  those  that  would  result  from  the  reduced  proportions  contemplated  by 
the  carriers'  final  suggestion: 

Grain.  Flour.  Pts.  Special  Iron. 

1       23456ABCDEHF      C.L.  C.L.  C.L.  C.L.  L.C.L. 

Present 100  86  70  53  45  35  28  39  34  31  47  50  68   31     34  35  28    34 

Proposed 90  78  63  47  40  31  26  38  30  27  42  45  60   26     28  31   26    31 


Reduction 10      876542144558         5 

TO  HOPE   MILLS— ZONE   No.   3 
The  carriers  suggested  reductions  as  follows: 


Grain. 

Flour.  Potatoes. 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

A 

B 

C 

D 

E 

H 

F 

C.L. 

C.L.        C.L. 

9 

8 

7 

5 

4 

2 

1 

1 

2 

2 

4 

5 

4 

4 

5              4 

■REDUCTION  OF  FREIGHT  RATES  79 

The  Commission  offered  to  report  the  same  reductions  to  points  in  this  zone  as  to 
points  in  Zone  No.  2,  which  were: 

Grain.  Flour.  Potatoes.  Special  Iron. 
123456ABCDEHF  C.L.  C.L.  C.L.  C.L.  L.C.L. 
11       8877424445585  6  4  2  4 

The  final  reductions  suggested  by  the  carriers,  beyond  which  they  felt  they  could 
not  go,  were  as  follows: 

Grain.  Flour.  Potatoes.  Special  Iron. 
1  2  3  4  5  6ABCDEHF  C.L.  C.L.  C.L.  C.L.  L.C.L. 
10       8765421445585  6  4  2  4 

The  following  is  a  comparison  of  present  rates  from  Cincinnati  and  Louisville  to 
Hope  Mills,  and  of  those  that  would  result  from  the  final  basis  submitted  by  the 
carriers : 

Grain.  Flour.  Pts.  Special  Iron. 

1       23456ABCDEHF      C.L.  C.L.  C.L.  C.L.  L.C.L. 

Present- 112  98  82  65  52  42  32  43  36  33  55  59  72   33  36    42  32  38 

Proposed 102  90  75  59  47  38  30  42  32  29  50  54  64   28  30    38  30  36 

Reduction 10      876542144558  5  6  4         2  2 

GIBSON— ZONE   No.   4 
The  carriers  suggested  reductions  as  follows: 


Grain. 

Flour.  Potatoes. 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

A 

B 

C 

D 

E 

H 

F 

C.L. 

C.L.         C.L. 

s 

5 

5 

5 

2 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

2 

2 

2 

3 

4               3 

which  the  Commission  declined. 

The  carriers'  final  suggestion  was: 

Grain.  Flour.  Potatoes.  Special  Iron. 
123456ABCDEHF  C.L.  C.L.  C.L.  C.L.  L.C.L. 
55552111222243  4  1  2  1 

which  the  Commission  offered  to  report  without  recommendation,  provided  reductions  on 
sixth  class  and  Class  B  were  made  2  cents  instead  of  1  cent. 

GASTONIA— ZONE  No.  4 

The  following  reductions  were  suggested  by  the  carriers   in  rates  from   Cincinnati 
and  Louisville: 


Grain. 

Flour. 

Potatoes. 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

A 

B 

C 

D 

E 

H 

F 

C.L. 

C.L. 

C.L. 

5 

5 

5 

5 

3 

1 

1 

1 

3 

3 

2 

6 

0 

5 

6 

3 

which  the  Commission  declined. 

These  reductions  would  have  given  Gastonia  the  same  total  rates  from  Cincinnati 
and  Louisville  as  first  proposed  by  the  carriers  to  Gibson. 

The  final  proposition  of  the  carriers  contemplated  the  following  reductions: 

Grain.  Flour.  Potatoes.  Special  Iron. 
123456ABCDEHF  C.L.  C.L.  C.L.  C.L.  L.C.L. 
5555311144262  5  6  1  2  1 

these  figures  having  the  effect  of  giving  Gastonia  the  same  totals  from  Cincinnati  and 
Louisville  as  under  the  final  proposition  of  the  carriers  with  respect  to  Gibson. 

"We  understand  the  reductions  proposed  to  Gastonia  would  be  reported  by  the  Com- 
mission without  recommendation  if  the  sixth  class  and  Class  B  were  reduced  2  cents 
respectively. 


80  LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

HICKORY  AND  LINCOLNTON— GROUP  No.  4 

The  first  suggestion  made  by  the  carriers  was  to  reduce  the  rates  to  these  points 
to  the  following  extent: 


Grain. 

Flour.  Potatoes. 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

A 

B 

C 

D 

E 

H 

F 

C.L. 

C.L.        C.L. 

5 

5 

5 

5 

3 

1 

1 

3 

3 

0 

4 

6 

2 

2 

6              3 

this  giving  Hickory  and  Lincolnton  the  same  total  rates  as  to  Gibson  and  Gastonia. 
The  carriers  finally  proposed  the  following  reductions: 

Grain.  Flour.  Potatoes.  Special  Iron. 
1  2  3  4  5  6ABCDEHF  C.L.  C.L.  C.L.  C.L.  L.C.L. 
95553112414642  6  1  2  1 

resulting  in  the  following  total  rates  from  Cincinnati  and  Louisville: 

Grain.    Flour.  Potatoes.  Special  Iron. 
123456ABCDEHF      C.L.       C.L.         C.L.       C.L.   L.C.L. 
107      93      77      60      50      41      31      42      34      31      53      57      68        30  32  41  30         37 

The  Commission  suggested  the  adoption  of  the  following  totals  from  Cincinnati  and 
Louisville  to  Hickory  and  Lincolnton: 

Grain.    Flour.  Potatoes.  Special  Iron. 
1       2       3       4       5       6ABCDEHF      C.L.       C.L.        C.L.      C.L.  L.C.L. 
103      89      75      60      50      38      30      40      32      30      50      54      68        27  28  

which  would  have  involved  the  following  reductions: 

Grain.  Flour.  Potatoes.  Special  Iron. 
1  2  3  4  5  6ABCDEHF  C.L.  C.L.  C.L.  C.L.  L.C.L. 
9975342562794  5  10  

which  the  carriers  advised  they  could  not  accept. 

MARION— GROUP  No.  B 

Statesville,  N.  C,  is  in  Zone  No.  2,  and  the  observance  of  reduced  rates  to  that 
point  as  maxima  to  points  in  the  western  part  of  the  State  would  have  caused  such 
extraordinary  reductions  that  the  carriers  were  compelled  to  decline  the  observance 
of  Statesville  rates  as  maxima  to  territory  west  thereof,  and  in  lieu  of  this  basis  sug- 
gested the  observance  of  reduced  rates  to  Marion  as  maxima  as  hereinafter  explained. 

To  illustrate  the  effect  of  the  application  of  the  reduced  Statesville  rates  resulting 
from  the  carriers'  final  suggestion  as  maxima  to  points  west  of  Statesville,  the  rates 
to  Marion  would  have  been  reduced  to  the  following  extent: 

Grain.  Flour.  Potatoes.  Special  Iron. 
1  2  3  4  5  6ABCDEHF  C.L.  C.L.  C.L.  C.L.  L.C.L. 
26      24      23      20      15      14       6        9        9        4       16      19      12         5  11  6  8  14 

Reductions  first  proposed  by  carriers  to  Marion,  as   follows: 

Grain.  Flour.  Potatoes.  Special  Iron. 
123456ABCDEHF  C.L.  C.L.  C.L.  C.L.  L.C.L. 
9984341540572  1  7  6  .... 

The  carriers  finally  proposed  the  following  reductions: 

Grain.  Flour.  Potatoes.  Special  Iron. 
1  2  3  4  5  6ABCDEHF  C.L.  C.L.  C.L.  C.L.  L.C.L. 
9984341550574  1  7  4  3  3 

The  Commission  proposed  the  following  total  rates  from  Cincinnati  and  Louisville 
to  Marion: 


REDUCTION  OF  FREIGHT  RATES  81 

Grain.   Flour.  Potatoes.  Special  Iron. 
1        2345       6ABCDEHF       C.L.      C.L.         C.L.      C.L.  L.C.L. 
103      89      75      50      50      38      30      40      32      30      50      54      68         27  28  

the  adoption  of  which  would  have  caused  the  following  reductions: 

Grain.    Flour.  Potatoes.  Special  Iron. 
C.L.       C.L.  L.C.L. 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

A 

B 

C 

D 

E 

H 

F 

C.L. 

C.L. 

13 

13 

11 

7 

5 

7 

2 

7 

7 

1 

8 

10 

4 

4 

11 

which  reductions  the  carriers  deemed  excessive  and  declined  to  accept. 

Since  conference,  Southern  Railway  is  in  receipt  of  a  letter  from  Commissioner 
W.  T.  Lee,  from  which  the  following  is  quoted: 

"I  would  suggest  that  you  start  Marion  at  $1.05  and  Waynesville  and  Hendersonville 
at  $1.05.  You  will  note  this  will  make  the  same  reduction  in  cents  per  hundred  pounds 
as  to  the  Greensboro  Zone." 

Assuming  that  Commissioner  Lee  intended  to  suggest  that  reductions  he  made  to 
Marion,  Waynesville,  and  Hendersonville  on  each  class  the  same  as  to  points  in  the 
Greensboro  Zone,  said  reductions  would  be  as  follows: 

Grain.  Flour.  Potatoes.  Special  Iron. 
1234  5  6ABCDEHF  C.L.  C.L.  C.L.  C.L.  L.C.L. 
11       876542344558  5  6  4  2  2 

and  would  result  in  the  following  totals: 

Grain.    Flour.  Potatoes.  Special  Iron. 
12345        6ABCDEHF     C.L.      C.L.        C.L.      C.L.  L.C.L. 
105      94      67      61      50      41      30      44      35      27      53      59      64        26  33  41  32         38 

as  compared  with  totals  finally  proposed  by  the  carriers  as  follows: 

Grain.    Flour.  Potatoes.  Special  Iron. 
123456       A       BCDEHF      C.L.       C.L.        C.L.       C.L.  L.C.L. 
107      93      78      63      52      41      31      42      34      31      53      57      68        30  32  41  33         36 

It  should  he  borne  in  mind  that  the  rates  which  the  carriers  propose  to  establish 
at  Marion  were  intended  to  he  the  maxima  to  points  on  Southern  Railway  between 
Marion  and  Asheville,  and  that  the  Marion  rates  were  also  intended  to  apply  to  Shelby, 
Rutherfordton,  Morganton,  Hendersonville,  and  Waynesville  and  as  maxima  to  destina- 
tions intermediate  thereto,  involving  substantial  reductions  to  all  of  said  intermediate 
stations. 

The  suggestion  just  received  from  Commissioner  Lee,  if  correctly  interpreted, 
would  involve  some  advances  as  well  as  some  reductions  from  the  figures  proposed  by 
the  carriers.  The  reductions  proposed  by  Commissioner  Lee  on  Class  D  and  on  grain, 
car-loads,  would  be  most  serious,  and  cause  the  adoption  of  a  lower  rate  on  Class  D  and  on 
grain,  in  car-loads,  to  Marion  than  to  Hope  Mills,  Gibson,  Gastonia,  Hickory,  or 
Lincolnton. 

The  Seaboard  Air  Line  could  not  maintain  lower  rates  to  Shelby  and  Rutherfordton 
than  to  Lincolnton  and  intermediate  points  via  its  route.  Therefore,  if  suggestions 
now  made  by  Commissioner  Lee  are  adopted  as  to  Marion,  the  Seaboard  will  have  to 
abandon  its  policy  of  maintaining  rates  to  Shelby  and  Rutherfordton  on  the  Marion 
basis,  or  reduce  its  Lincolnton  rates  below  the  Hickory  basis,  which  it  now  maintains. 

In  view  of  these  facts,  and  in  view  of  the  most  substantial  concessions  involved  in 
the  carriers'  final  figures,  it  appears  to  the  carriers  that  they  should  not  be  expected 
to  make  further  sacrifice  at  Marion  and  points  west  thereof. 


82  LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

SHELBY  AND  RUTHERFORDTON— ZONE  No.  5 

In  both  the  initial  and  final  suggestion  of  the  carriers,  Shelby  and  Rutherfordton 
were  grouped  with  Marion,  and  reductions  involved  in  the  final  suggestion  of  the 
carriers  to  these  points  were  as  follows: 

Grain.  Flour.  Potatoes.  Special  Iron. 
1  2  3  4  5  6ABCDEHF  C.L.  C.L.  C.L.  C.L.  L.C.L. 
9984363555689  6  7  6  3  3 

The  Commission  suggested  the  following  total  rates  from  Cincinnati  and  Louisville 
to  Shelby  and  Rutherfordton,  namely: 

Grain.    Flour.  Potatoes.  Special  Iron. 
1       2       3       4       5       6ABCDEHF      C.L.      C.L.        C.L.      C.L.  L.C.L. 
103      89      75      60      50      38      30      40      32      30      50      54      68        27  28 

which  would  have  involved  the  following  reductions,  namely: 

Grain.  Flour.  Potatoes.  Special  Iron. 
1  2  3  4  5  6ABCDEHF  C.L.  C.L.  C.L.  C.L.  L.C.L. 
13      13      11       7        5        9       4        7        7        6       9       11       9         9  11  

which  the  carriers  could  not  accept. 

MORGANTON— ZONE   No.   5 

The  observance  of  the  proposed  Marion  rates  to  Morganton  would  result  in  the 
following   reductions   from    Cincinnati   and   Louisville: 

Grain.  Flour.  Potatoes.  Special  Iron. 
123456ABCDEHF  C.L.  C.L.  C.L.  C.L.  L.C.L. 
99843635516862  7  6  3  6 

WAYNESVILLE  AND  HENDERSONVILLE— ZONE  No.  6 

The  observance  of  Marion  rates  as  maxima  under  the  final  proposition  of  the  car- 
riers would  result  in  the  following  reductions  to  Hendersonville: 

Grain.  Flour.  Potatoes.  Special  Iron. 
F  C.L.  C.L.  C.L.  C.L.  L.C.L. 
0         1  5  7  3  5 

and  to  Waynesville: 

Grain.  Flour.  Potatoes.  Special  Iron. 
123456ABCDEHF  C.L.  C.L.  C.L.  C.L.  L.C.L. 
99       10       9781551365  2  7  8  3  8 

To  these  points  the  Commission  proposed  the  following  totals  from  Cincinnati  and 
Louisville: 

Grain.    Flour.  Potatoes.  Special  Tron. 
1       2       3       4       5       6ABCDEHF      C.L.      C.L.        C.L.      C.L.  L.C.L. 
103      89      75      60      50      38      30      40      33      30      50      54      63        25  28 

the  adoption  of  which  would  have  caused  the  following  reductions  to  Hendersonville: 

Grain.  Flour.  Potatoes.  Special  Iron. 
1  2  3  4  5  6ABCDEHF  C.L.  C.L.  C.L.  C.L.  L.C.L. 
13      12      11      11       8       10       2        5        5        0        7        9        0         4  9  ..  .... 

and  an  increase  of  1  cent  on  Class  D  and  of  2  cents  on  Class  F  over  the  present  figures. 
The  adoption  of  the  Commission's  proposal  to  Waynesville  would  cause  the  following 
reductions: 


5 

6 

A 

B 

C 

D 

E 

H 

6 

7 

1 

3 

3 

0 

4 

6 

REDUCTION  OF  FREIGHT  RATES 


83 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

A 

B 

C 

D 

E 

13 

13 

13 

12 

9 

11 

2 

7 

7 

0 

6 

Grain.  Flour.  Potatoes.  Special  Iron. 
F  C.L.  C.L.  C.L.  C.L.  L.C.L. 
3  5  11 

The  carriers  did  not  feel  that  they  could  fairly  be  asked  to  make  such  heavy  reduc- 
tions as  those  proposed  by  the  Commission. 

Note  comment  above  under  Marion  with  respect  to  Commissioner  Lee's  proposal  as  to 
Waynesville  and  Hendersonville. 

ASHEVILLE— ZONE  No.  6 


In  addition  to  the  reduction  in  car-load  commodity  rates  from  Cincinnati  and  Louis- 
ville to  Asheville,  hereinafter  set  out,  the  carriers  first  proposed  to  reduce  the  class 
rates  to  Asheville  to  the  following  extent: 


1 


Further  concessions  were  subsequently  suggested  looking  to   reductions   as  follows: 


Grain. 

Flour. 

Potatoes.  Special  Iron. 

3 

4 

5 

6 

A 

B 

C 

D 

E 

H 

F   C.L. 

C.L. 

C.L.   C.L.  L.C.L. 

0 

2 

3 

5 

0 

7 

4 

1 

3 

3 

5    3 

6 

7 

Grain.     Flour.  Potatoes. 
A        B        C        D        E        H        F         C.L.         C.L.        C.L. 
0762555  3  8  5 


Since   the   conference   a   letter   has   been    received    from    Commissioner   W.    T.    Lee, 
suggesting  the  following  rates  from  Cincinnati  and  Louisville  to  Asheville: 


Grain. 

Flour.  Potatoes. 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

A 

B 

C 

D 

E 

H 

F 

C.L. 

C.L.    C.L. 

93 

81 

73 

60 

50 

38 

26 

34 

28 

24 





56 

23 

25 

The  adoption  of  this  suggestion  would  cause  the  following  reductions  in  the  rates  to 
Asheville  and  all  points  between  Morristown  and  Asheville,  and  practically  the  same 
reductions  to  Morristown,  the  rates  to  which  are  now  almost  identical  with  the  Ashe- 
ville rates: 


B 


Grain. 

Flour. 

Potatoes, 

D 

E 

H 

F 

C.L. 

C.L. 

C.L. 

3 

5 

5 

7 

4 

11 

„ 

Inasmuch  as  the  Asheville  rates  are  now  on  a  very  low  basis,  and  in  view  of  the 
substantial  concessions  already  suggested  by  the  carriers  as  to  the  class  rates  and  as 
to  important  car-load  commodities,  set  out  below,  it  is  the  belief  of  the  carriers  that 
the  Commission  will  not  insist  on  any  further  sacrifice  in  the  Asheville  territory. 

Following  is  a  statement  of  present  rates  to  Asheville  and  those  finally  proposed 
by  the  carriers,  on  both  classes  and  car-load  commodities,  which  we  trust  will  find 
acceptance: 

CLASSES 


Present 

Proposed 

Reductions 4 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

A 

B 

C 

D 

E 

H 

F 

99 

88 

77 

65 

55 

46 

28 

43 

36 

27 

52 

58 

63 

95 

84 

75 

63 

52 

41 

28 

36 

30 

25 

47 

53 

58 

0 


COMMODITIES 

Pre33nt.    Proposed. 

Agricultural  implements,  rated  6th  class  in  Southern  Classifi- 
cation, mixed  with  farm  wagons  without  springs,  min.  wt. 
20,000   lbs.,   C.    L 46  36 

Agricultural     implements,    viz.:       Harvesting    machinery    and 

binders'  twine,  mixed,  min.  wt.  24,000  lbs.,  C.  L 55  45 


Reduction. 


10 


10 


52 

3 

28 

8 

45 

10 

49 

6 

24 

3 

84         LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

Present.    Proposed.    Reduction. 
Agricultural  cultivating  implements,   straight  or  mixed,   C.  L., 

min.   wt.   20,000   lbs.,   viz.:      Corn  planters,   cotton   choppers, 

cotton  planters,  cultivators,  field  rollers,  grain  drills,  guano 

distributors,  harrows,  plows,  potato  diggers,  potato  planters, 

seed  sowers   (not  hand),  stalk  cutters   (field),  transplanters 

and  parts  thereof,  when  shipped  with  implements  named..     46  36  10 

Beams,  plow  and  plow  handles,  in  the  rough  or  in  the  white, 

straight  or  mixed,  min.  wt.  20,000  lbs.,  C.  L 46  36  10 

Canned  goods,  viz.:  Beef,  pork,  sausage,  tripe,  and  meats  and 
vegetables,  combined,  in  tin  cans,  packed  in  boxes  or  barrels, 
C.   L 55  46  9 

Crackers,  bread,  cakes,  and  cracker  meal,  packed,  C.  L.,  as  per 
Note    39,    Southeastern    Tariff,    No.    8 55 

Flour,   C.   L 36 

Jars,  fruit  and  jelly  glasses,  straight  or  mixed,  C.  L 55 

Glass,  rough  or  ribbed,  C.  L.;  glass,  window  (not  plate),  C.  L..     55 

Grain,   C.   L 27 

Iron  and  steel  articles,  viz.:      Sheet  iron   and  sheet  steel,  not 

planished  or  polished,  min.  wt.  30,000  lbs.,  C.  L 46  34  12 

Iron  roofing  (see  Note  53,  page  136,  Southeastern  Tariff,  No.  8), 
black  or  galvanized,  plain  or  corrugated,  and  steel  or  iron 
siding,  stamped  in  imitation  of  brick  or  stone,  straight  or 
mixed,  with  sheet  iron  or  sheet  steel  (not  planished  or  pol- 
ished), min.   wt.   40,000  lbs 46 

Special  iron,  minimum  wt.  30,000  lbs.,  C.  L 30 

Same,   L.   C.   L 38 

Meats,   fresh,  min.  wt.  24,000  lbs.    (see  Notes  55   and   56,   page 

136,  Southeastern  Tariff,  No.  8),  C.  L 60  50  10 

Packing-house  products  (see  Notes  55  and  56,  page  136,  South- 
eastern Tariff,  No.  8 ) ,  C.  L 43  36  7 

Oatmeal,  rolled  oats,  rolled,  packed,  crushed  or  flaked,  rye 
flaked,  rolled,  pearl  barley  and  hominy  grits,  not  cooked, 
packed,  or  in  barrels,  kegs,  drums  or  half-barrels,  or  in  cot- 
ton or  in  gunny  sacks,  C.  L 46  35  11 

Pickles,  in  wood  or  in  glass,  straight  or  mixed,  C.  L 46  41  5 

Pickles,  vinegar,  sauerkraut,  mustard  (prepared),  horseradish, 
catsup,  table  sauce  or  olives,  in  glass  or  earthenware,  packed 
or  in  wood,  mixed  with  preserves,  fruit  butters,  or  jellies,  in 
glass,  earthenware  or  cans,  packed  or  in  wood,  C.  L 55  46  9 

Powder,  soap,  straight  or  when  mixed  with  washing  compounds, 
not  liquid,  and  soap  in  boxes  or  barrels,  agreed  to  be  of 
value  not  exceeding  5  cents  per  pound  and  so  expressed  in 
bill  of  lading  (see  Rule  2,  Southern  Classification),  C.  L.  ..     34  29  5 

Salt,    C.    L 23  18  5 

Soap,  in  boxes  or  barrels,  agreed  to  be  of  value  of  not  exceed- 
ing 5  cents  per  pound  and  so  expressed  in  bill  of  lading,  or 
when  mixed  with  washing  compounds,  not  liquid,  or  soap 
powders,    C.    L 34  29  5 

Soda,   bicarbonate,    in    sacks,    kegs,    barrels,   or   casks,    and    in 

pails,  crated,  min.  wt.  30,000  pounds,  C.  L 55  45  10 

Starch,  packed  or  in  sacks,  C.  L 37  35  2 

Stoves  and  ranges  (except  alcohol,  gas,  gasoline,  oil,  and  vapor 
stoves  and  ranges),  hollo wware,  stove  and  range  furniture, 
grate  frames,  baskets,  fixtures,  stove  boards  and  stove  pipe 


34 

12 

30 

0 

34 

4 

REDUCTION  OF  FREIGHT  RATES  85 

Present.    Proposed.    Reduction. 

(side  seams  not  closed),  0.  R.,  C.  L.  (C.  L.  shipments  not 
crated  or  boxed  must  be  so  braced  in  car  as  to  prevent  shift- 
ing of  the  load  and  to  insure  safe  transportation) 55  45  10 

Wooden   and   paper   butter   dishes   and   plates,   min.   wt.   24,000 

lbs.,  C.  L 55  45  10 

It  is  understood  that  in  the  event  a  revision  is  made  of  the  rates  from  Cincinnati 
and  Louisville  to  points  in  North  Carolina,  like  revision  will  be  made  from  other  Ohio 
River  crossings,  and  St.  Louis,  Memphis,  and  Nashville,  so  as  to  preserve  the  existing 
relationship. 

It  is  the  intent  of  the  carriers,  in  the  event  of  an  agreement  with  the  State  and  sub- 
sequent adoption  of  the  rates  herein  suggested  by  them,  under  the  approval  of  the  Inter- 
state Commerce  Commission,  to  so  revise  rates  to  points  on  branch  lines,  not  herein- 
before referred  to,  as  to  substantially  preserve  present  relationships. 

It  is  proposed  by  the  carriers  that  as  to  points  intermediate  from  the  West,  via  the 
direct  routes  through  Virginia  cities,  to  observe  the  revised  rates  to  points  in  Zone  No.  1 
as  maxima  to  intermediate  destinations. 

The  Commission  proposed  that  to  points  in  North  Carolina  north  of  the  northern 
boundary  of  Zone  No.  1  reductions  be  made  in  rates  from  the  West  the  same  in  per- 
centage as  to  points  in  Zone  No.  1. 

This  proposal  was  not  accepted  by  the  carriers,  because  of  their  feeling  that  Fourth 
Section  observance  will  result  in  substantial  reductions  to  points  intermediate  to  Zone 
No.  1,  and  that  even  observing  Zone  No.  1  figures  as  maxima  involves  some  intermediate 
Virginia  destinations. 

WILMINGTON,  N.  C. 

To  Wilmington  and  other  water  competitive  points  on  the  coast  of  North  Carolina 
the  Commission  suggested  reductions — not  to  the  same  extent,  but  with  some  relation  to 
reductions  to  inland  points. 

The  following  tentative  reductions  to  Wilmington  were  discussed,  viz.: 


1 

2 

3 

4 

6 

6 

A 

B 

C 

D 

E 

H 

F 

4 

2 

0 

3 

2 

1 

1 

2 

3 

1 

4 

0 

2 

No  agreement  could  be  reached,  because  the  carriers  believe  that  no  reductions  to 
these  water  competitive  points  below  the  necessity  of  competition  can  possibly  be  justi- 
fied. 

Note. — The  commodity  rates  herein  proposed  on  "potatoes,  C.  L."  will  apply  on  the 
following  description: 

"Vegetables,  viz.:  Apples,  pears,  beets,  cabbage,  onions,  turnips,  and  potatoes,  straight 
or  mixed  C.  L.  (potatoes,  in  straight  C.  L.,  min.  wt.,  May  1st  to  October  31st,  inclusive, 
24,000  pounds,  and  from  November  1st  to  April  30,  inclusive,  30,000  pounds.)" 

Note. — The  carriers  will  undertake  a  revision  of  rates  on  bananas,  in  car-loads,  from 
Mobile  to  North  Carolina  destinations,  involving  reductions  to  representative  points  as 
follows:  Raleigh  and  Greensboro,  11  cents;  Salisbury,  12  cents;  Charlotte,  13  cents;  and 
Asheville,  13  cents  per  hundred  pounds. 

RATES  FROM  THE  EASTERN  SEABOARD  TERRITORY  TO  POINTS  IN 

NORTH  CAROLINA 

(This  heading  is  intended  to  embrace  all  the  territory  lying  in  and  east  of  the 

Buffalo-Pittsburg  Zone.) 

At  a  conference  with  the  North  Carolina  Commission  at  Old  Point  Comfort,  June  24, 
1913,  representatives  of  the  railways  submitted  a  memorandum  to  the  Commission,  a 
paragraph  of  which  reads  as  follows: 


86  LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

"After  conference  with  representatives  of  the  B.  and  0.,  Pennsylvania,  and  Reading 
Railway,  we  are  prepared  to  say  that  those  lines  will  concur  with  their  southern  con- 
nections in  the  revision  of  rates  via  all-rail  from  points  on  those  lines  to  points  in  North 
Carolina,  observing  combinations  of  current  locals  on  Norfolk,  Richmond,  Lynchburg, 
and  Roanoke  as  maxima." 

Combinations  of  locals  do  not  affect  current  class  rates  except  via  all-rail  from  New 
York,  Philadelphia,  and  Baltimore.  The  lower  water  and  rail  rates  attract  practically 
all  of  the  business  from  these  ports  to  North  Carolina  destinations,  and  therefore  the 
question  of  all-rail  combinations  as  to  class  rates  from  the  ports  to  North  Carolina  points 
is  of  small  consequence. 

Nevertheless,  it  is  the  purpose  of  the  carriers,  in  the  event  of  agreement  with  the 
Commission,  to  observe  these  combinations  as  maxima. 

The  observance  of  combination  via  all-rail  from  interior  points  will,  the  carriers  be- 
lieve, be  of  substantial  value,  particularly  as  to  some  of  the  leading  commodities  moving 
in  car-loads,  as  illustrative  of  which  attention  is  directed  to  the  following: 

The  rate  on  molasses  and  glucose  in  car-loads  from  New  York  and  Philadelphia,  all- 
rail,  to  North  Carolina  destinations,  will  be  reduced  in  amounts  ranging  from  1%  cents 
in  some  cases,  to  as  much  as  5%  cents  in  others. 

Hardware,  N.O.S.,  as  per  Official  Classification,  from  Boston  and  points  taking  Boston 
rates,  will  be  reduced  to  the  principal  destinations  in  North  Carolina  7  cents  per  hun- 
dred pounds. 

Glass  bottles,  fruit  jars,  and  glassware,  N.O.S.,  in  car-loads,  from  some  of  the  actual 
shipping  points  in  the  interior  east,  will  be  reduced  in  sums  ranging  from  y2  cent  to 
11  cents  per  hundred  pounds. 

Crackers,  car-load  from  New  York  and  Philadelphia  to  the  principal  destinations  in 
North  Carolina,  4  cents. 

Canned  goods,  from  New  York  and  Philadelphia,  reductions  ranging  from  4  to  6 
cents. 

Roofing  paper  from  York,  Pa.,  1%  cents,  and  from  Downington,  Pa.,  4  cents. 

Tin  cans  from  Baltimore,  2  cents. 

Petroleum  and  its  products  from  Marcus  Hook,  Pa.,  reductions  ranging  from  iy2  to 
4%  cents. 

Soap  from  New  York  and  Philadelphia,  and  bicarbonate  of  soda  from  Syracuse,  N.  Y., 
reductions  ranging  from  3  to  5  cents. 

Strawboard  from  Pencoyd,  Pa.,  2  cents. 

These  are  merely  illustrative,  and  do  not  embrace  the  entire  range  of  changes  that 
will  result  from  the  adoption  of  this  basis. 

It  is  not  to  be  understood  that  every  rate  to  every  destination  from  these  or  other 
shipping  points  is  affected,  even  on  the  commodities  named,  by  the  combination  of  locals. 

Lack  of  time  and  of  opportunity  to  discuss  these  matters  with  eastern  connections 
does  not  permit  us  at  the  moment  to  go  into  more  detail,  but  it  is  understood  that  in  the 
event  of  agreement  with  the  Commission,  the  carriers  will  proceed  with  all  reasonable 
dispatch  to  bring  to  a  conclusion  with  the  eastern  connections  this  question  of  interior 
eastern  rate  adjustment. 

During  the  closing  hours  of  the  present  conference,  the  Commission  suggested  to  the 
carriers  the  application  south  of  Virginia  cities  of  proportional  rates  for  the  construc- 
tion of  totals  from  points  in  the  Eastern  Seaboard  territory  to  North  Carolina  destina- 
tions, the  same  as  those  to  be  used  in  the  construction  of  revised  rates  from  Ohio  River 
crossings. 

The  basis  of  rates  the  carriers  believe  to  be  altogether  impracticable,  for  reasons  set 
out  in  the  memorandum  submitted  by  the  carriers  at  conference  in  Raleigh,  April  26, 
1913.     The  suggestion  of  the  Commission  was,  therefore,  respectfully  declined. 

It  was  thereupon  suggested  by  the  Commission  that  the  carriers  use  this  basis  in  the 
construction  of  rates  from  points  in  the  Buffalo-Pittsburg  Zone,  but  the  carriers  were 
not  then  prepared  to  deal  with  that  question,  first,  because  they  did  not  have  with  them 


REDUCTION  OF  FREIGHT  RATES  87 

tariffs  which  would  enable  them  to  determine  the  effect  of  the  application  of  the  basis, 
and,  second,  because  they  could  not  determine  that  question  without  consulting  their 
eastern  connections,  opportunity  for  which  has  not  yet  been  had. 

The  carriers,  however,  agreed  to  take  that  suggestion  under  consideration,  and  to 
advise  what,  if  anything,  could  be  done  with  it. 

There  has  not  yet  been  time  for  a  thorough  analysis  of  the  question  or  for  any  dis- 
cussion with  initial  carriers,  but  we  now  express  the  belief  that  the  application  of  pro- 
portional rates  on  business  from  points  in  the  Buffalo-Pittsburg  Zone,  the  same  as  those 
used  on  business  from  the  Ohio  River  crossings,  is  impracticable. 

The  present  rates  are  lower  than  combination  of  locals  to  the  following  extent: 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

A 

B 

C 

D 

E 

H 

F 

Buffalo 

11 

9 

7 

4 

4 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

4 

4 

6 

Pittsburg 

8 

8 

5 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

2 

The  question  of  these  rates  depends  so  much  upon  the  position  of  the  initial  carriers 
that  the  representatives  of  the  North  Carolina  lines  are  unable  at  the  moment  to  advise 
what,  if  anything,  can  be  done  looking  to  the  modification  of  the  existing  total  class 
rates  from  the  Buffalo-Pittsburg  Zone.  It  is  understood,  of  course,  that  in  so  far  as 
rates  may  be  affected  by  combination  of  locals,  the  revision  will  be  made. 

The  revision  of  rates  herein  presented  by  the  carriers  is  proposed  in  the  spirit 
enunciated  in  memorandum  presented  by  representatives  of  the  carriers  to  representa- 
tives of  the  State  in  conference  at  Raleigh,  February  26,  1913,  and  subject  to  the  condi- 
tions set  out  in  said  memorandum,  and  with  the  further  understanding,  as  agreed  upon 
with  the  North  Carolina  Commission,  that  an  agreement  between  the  Commission  and 
the  carriers,  approved  by  the  Governor,  settles  all  pending  differences  between  the 
State  of  North  Carolina  and  the  railways  with  respect  to  rates  on  interstate  traffic 
involved  in  the  various  conferences  between  representatives  of  the  railways  and  rep- 
resentatives of  the  State. 

This  memorandum  is  prepared  in  pursuance  of  understanding  reached  just  before 
adjournment  of  the  conference,  that  it  would  be  furnished  the  Commission  and  sub- 
mitted by  it  to  the  Governor,  and  that  the  undersigned  would  be  notified  as  to  any  con- 
clusion reached  by  the  Governor  and  the  members  of  the  Commission. 

It  was  also  understood  that  in  the  event  the  rates  now  suggested  by  the  carriers  are 

not  accepted  by  the  State,  there  is  to  be  another  conference  between  the  Governor,  the 

Commission,  and  the  executives  of  the  railways. 

(Signed)  L.  Green, 

Chairman,  Committee  of  Railway  Representatives. 


MEMORANDUM  OF  CONFERENCE  AT  THE  OFFICE  OF  THE 

NORTH  CAROLINA  CORPORATION  COMMISSION, 

RALEIGH,  N.  O,  AUGUST  2,  1913, 

BETWEEN 

Chairman  Tbavis,  Commissioners  Lee,  Pell,  and  Secretary  Maxwell,  or  the 
North  Carolina  Corporation  Commission, 

AND 

C.  R.  Capps,  V.  P.,  Seaboard  Air  Line  Railway. 

R.  A.  Brand,  V.  P.  ) 

_  y  Atlantic  Coast  Line  Railway. 

J.  W.  Perrin,  G.  P.  A. 

L.    Green,    F.    T.    M.,    Southern   Railway    Company. 

This  conference  supplemented  that  held  at  Old  Point  Comfort,  Va.,  July  22-25th,  inclu- 
sive, and  was  upon  telegraphic  request  of  the  Chairman  of  the  Commission. 


88  LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

The  carriers,  after  further  consideration  of  requests  of  the  Corporation  Commission, 
modified  the  final  figures  submitted  by  them  at  the  Old  Point  Comfort  conference  to  the 
following  extent  to  Zone  No.  1: 

Classes        2       5       Potatoes,  C.L. 
1       1  2 

making  the  full  line  of  reductions  finally  proposed  by  the  carriers  at  the  Old  Point  Com- 
fort conference,  and  as  now  amended,  as  follows: 

Grain.     Flour.  Potatoes. 
12345         6ABCDEHF         C.L.        C.L.        C.L. 
11         886642344558  5  6  6 

To  Zone  No.  2,  the  carriers  proposed  the  following  additional  concessions: 

Classes         1       3       5       B        Potatoes,  C.L. 
1112  2 

making  the  measure  of  reductions  to  Zone  No.  2,  as  finally  submitted  by  the  carriers 
at  the  Old  Point  Comfort  conference,  and  as  modified  at  the  meeting  of  even  date,  as 
follows: 


Grain. 

Flour. 

Potatoes. 

1 

2 

3 

i 

5 

6 

A 

B 

C 

D 

E 

H 

F 

C.L. 

C.L. 

C.L. 

11 

8 

8 

6 

6 

i 

2 

2 

4 

4 

5 

5 

9 

5 

6 

6 

The  same  reductions  to  be  made  to  points  in  the  Hope  Mills  Zone  as  in  Zone  No.  2. 

The  difference  of  2  cents  per  hundred  pounds  between  Potatoes,  C.L.  and  L.C.L.,  to 
be  carried  throughout  the  State. 

To  Marion,  Hickory,  Lincolnton,  Shelby,  Rutherfordton,  Hendersonville,  and  Waynes- 
ville,  the  carriers  agreed  to  an  additional  concession  of  2  cents  per  hundred  pounds  on 
first  class,  thus  making  the  reduction  on  first-class  11  cents  per  hundred  pounds,  the 
same  as  to  points  in  Zone  No.  1. 

To  Asheville,  N.  C,  the  carriers  agreed  to  a  concession,  in  addition  to  those  proposed 
at  the  Old  Point  Comfort  conference,  of: 

Classes         1       4       A        Potatoes,  C.L. 
112  2 

thus  making  reductions  to  Asheville  as  follows: 

Grain.     Flour.  Potatoes. 
123456ABCDEHF         C.L.        C.L.        C.L. 
6423352762555  3  8  7 

The  following  statement  is  made  by  the  carriers  as  an  addition  to  the  memorandum 
of  the  proceedings  of  the  Old  Point  Comfort  conference: 

To  points  to  which  present  rates  have  been  depressed  by  water  competition,  reduc- 
tions will  not  be  made  except  to  make  the  rates  thereto  not  higher  than  to  the  next 
intermediate  point.  L_  Qree^ 

Chairman,  Committee  of  Raihoay  Representatives. 


•REDUCTION  OF  FREIGHT  RATES  89 

To  His  Excellency,  Locke  Craig,  September  19,  1913. 

Governor  of  North  Carolina: 

Pursuant  to  conclusion  reached  after  advising  with  your  Excellency,  the  Cor- 
poration Commission  resumed  negotiations  with  the  railways  for  further  reduc- 
tions in  interstate  freight  rates  in  Washington  on  September  10th.  The  negotia- 
tions extended  through  three  days,  the  Commission  during  that  time  treating  with 
both  the  traffic  managers  and  the  presidents  of  the  roads. 

As  the  result  of  these  negotiations  the  railroads  have  submitted  an  amended 
proposition,  which  we  herewith  submit  for  your  consideration. 

The  amended  proposition  makes  no  change  in  the  reductions  heretofore  offered 
on  western  traffic  to  zones  one,  two,  and  three,  except  to  increase  the  reduction 
one  cent  per  hundred  pounds  on  class  A,  in  order  to  make  that  proportionate  to 
the  other  classes. 

The  main  defect  in  the  former  proposition,  in  our  view,  was  that  it  did  not 
offer  relatively  equal  reductions  to  all  parts  of  the  State. 

It  did  not  offer  any  reductions  to  water  points,  and  the  reductions  to  points 
between  zone  one  and  the  Virginia  border,  to  points  west  of  Statesville,  and  to 
Gastonia  were  too  small  as  compared  to  the  reductions  in  zones  one  and  two. 

The  amended  proposition  offers  increased  reductions  to  all  of  these  points 
except  water  points. 

POINTS   ON   NORTHERN"   BOEDER 

In  respect  to  the  points  near  the  Virginia  border  north  and  east  of  zone  one, 
the  reductions  now  offered  to  them  are  proportionate  to  those  offered  to  zones  one 
and  two. 

Following  this  basis  the  proportional  rates  from  Virginia  cities  on  western 
traffic  were  made  as  follows: 

to  weldon  _   .     _ 

Grain.  Flour.  Potatoes. 

123456ABCDF     C.L.  C.L.  C.L. 

Present 65    46    39    29    26    19    16    20    16    14    30        14  16  16 

Proposed 45    39    32    24    21    16    14    17    14    12    28        11  12  14 

Reductions 10     7755323222         3  4  2 

These  same  rates  to  apply  to  Eoanoke  Eapids,  and  be  maxima  to  all  points 
on  Atlantic  Coast  Line  and  Seaboard  Air  Line,  north  of  Weldon ;  to  apply  to 
Lewiston  and  be  maxima  to  all  points  on  the  Lewiston  branch  of  the  Seaboard 
Air  Line ;  to  apply  via  Norfolk  to  Tarboro,  and  be  maxima  to  all  stations  east  of 
Tarboro  on  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line;  to  points  on  Norfolk  Southern  Eailroad 
taking  fifty-five-cent  rate  first  class,  or  less,  except  such  as  already  have  forty-five- 
cent  rate,  or  less ;  to  Eeidsville,  via  Lynchburg,  and  the  maxima  to  all  points  north 
on  the  Southern  Eailway.  The  rates  to  all  points  on  the  Norfolk  and  Western 
Eailway  between  Winston-Salem  and  Eoanoke  and  Durham  and  Lynchburg  are 
fixed  practically  on  the  same  basis,  resulting  in  rates  to  Madison  and  Eoxboro 
slightly  lower  than  the  Weldon  rates  except  on  first  class. 

GASTONIA 

The  reductions  now  offered  to  Gastonia,  are  as  follows: 

Grain.   Flour.    Potatoes. 
123456ABCDF     C.L.      C.L.  C.L. 

98553123444         5  6  3 

These  are  not  as  great  as  to  zone  two,  but  nearly  so. 


90  LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 


WEST    OF    STATESV1LLE 

The  reductions  to  this  territory  in  the  former  proposal  were  less  than  to  zones 
one  and  two. 

We  have  contended  that  the  rates  to  this  territory  from  the  west  being  unjustly 
higher  than  to  other  parts  of  the  State,  ought  to  be  reduced  more,  so  as  to  bring 
about  a  more  nearly  equitable  relation. 

They  now  propose  to  reduce  the  rates,  from  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  Louisville, 
Ky.,  and  related  points,  as  follows: 

TO   HICKORY 

Grain.  Flour.  Potatoes. 

123456ABCDF      C.L.  C.L.  C.L. 

Present 112  98  82  65  53  42  32  45  38  32  72   32     37      42 

Proposed 101  90  77  60  50  41  30  42  32  30  64   29     31      39 

11     8553123628         3  6  3 

These  rates  to  be  maxima  to  all  stations  west  of  Hickory.  This  results  in 
reductions  to  Morganton,  Marion,  Rutherfordton,  Shelby,  Waynesville,  Henderson- 
ville  and  intermediate  points  (except  Asheville)  approximately  as  follows,  which 
are  greater  than  to  other  parts  of  the  State : 

Grain.    Flour.    Potatoes. 
123456ABCDF      C.L.      C.L.  C.L. 

15    12     975635719         2  8  5 

BUFFALO-PITTSBURG  ZONE 

In  the  former  proposal  no  reductions  had  been  definitely  agreed  upon  from 
this  territory.  We  regarded  this  an  important  omission  because  of  the  fact  that 
the  principal  producing  points  of  many  of  the  most  important  and  commonly 
used  iron  and  steel  products  are  in  this  zone,  and  the  fact  that  the  prices  of 
many  of  them  in  all  parts  of  the  country  are  fixed  at  Pittsburg  prices  plus  the 
freight. 

The  carriers  now  offer  commodity  rates  from  this  territory  on  practically  all 
the  important  iron  and  steel  articles  produced  in  it,  both  in  carload  and  less  than 
carload,  which  are  the  same  as  would  result  from  the  application  of  the  propor- 
tionals offered  on  western  rates  and  are  substantial  and  beneficial  reductions. 

These  commodity  rates  cover  nails,  horseshoes,  bar  iron,  structural  iron,  bolts 
and  nuts,  plow  bases  and  plow  parts,  cotton  ties,  wire  fencing,  sheet  iron  roofing, 
roofing  tin,  and  a  great  many  other  extensively  used  iron  and  steel  articles. 

In  addition  to  this,  the  carriers  are  negotiating  with  their  northern  connec- 
tions for  a  readjustment  of  the  all  rail  rates  from  this  territory,  as  set  out  in 
their  offer,  which,  if  successful,  will  result  in  very  gratifying  reductions  in  the 
all  rail  class  rates.  They  showed  us  their  working  sheets  in  this  matter,  and  we 
were  agreeably  surprised  to  see  the  amount  of  work  they  had  already  done  toward 
this  adjustment. 

RATES    FROM    EASTERN    TERRITORY 

The  carriers  propose  to  make  such  revision  of  all  rail  rates  from  this  territory 
that  they  will  in  no  case  exceed  the  combination  of  locals  on  the  Virginia  cities, 
which  will  result  in  reductions  as  illustrated  in  their  offer.  In  many  cases  these 
rates  now  exceed  the  combination  of  locals. 


REDUCTION  OF  FREIGHT  RATES  91 

In  addition  to  this,  the  readjustment  which  they  are  undertaking  to  get  in 
the  Buffalo-Pittsburg  zone,  if  secured,  "will  extend  into  and  substantially  lower 
the  all  rail  rates  from  eastern  territory,  including  even  the  eastern  port  cities. 
While  the  success  of  this  adjustment  is  not  certain,  it  depending  on  the  concurrence 
of  northern  roads,  we  were  shown  that  such  progress  had  been  made  on  it  as  to 
make  it  very  probable. 

There  was  no  agreement  as  to  water  and  rail  rates  from  this  territory,  and 
that  matter  is  therefore  left  open. 

OUTBOUND     KATES 

The  former  proposal  adjusted  no  outbound  rates.  The  present  one  offers  out- 
bound class  rates  on  western  traffic,  observing  as  a  maxima  to  Cincinnati  and 
Louisville,  the  following:  123456 

100        85        72        57       48        39 

governed  by  southern  classification. 

Heretofore  we  have  had  no  through  class  rates  to  the  west,  and  all  such  ship- 
ments were  made  on  full  locals  under  one  classification  to  Virginia  cities,  and  a 
different  one  beyond.  This  resulted  not  only  in  very  high  rates,  but  much  annoy- 
ance to  shippers.  The  proposed  rates  will  remove  this  annoyance  and  make  large 
reductions  in  the  rates. 

WATEE     POINTS 

We  have  been  unable  to  secure  any  reductions  to  Wilmington,  ISTew  Bern, 
Washington,  Plymouth,  Edenton,  and  Elizabeth  City,  on  account  of  the  fact  that 
these  points,  having  water  competition,  already  have  rates  much  lower  than  other 
parts  of  the  State,  and  generally  lower  than  the  reduced  rates  will  be  to  any 
other  points  in  the  State. 

We  regret  our  inability  to  get  reductions  to  these  points,  but  we  do  not  feel 
that  it  would  be  just  that  the  whole  State  be  deprived  of  the  substantial  reduc- 
tions offered  because  these  points  can  not  also  get  reductions,  and  we  believe  that 
the  citizens  of  these  cities  will  be  too  unselfish  and  patriotic  to  make  such  a 
demand,  but  on  the  contrary,  will  be  glad  to  see  the  rest  of  the  State  enjoy  in  part 
the  blessings  they  have  already  been  enjoying  for  a  long  time. 

CONCLUSION 

These  negotiations  were  originally  begun  by  the  carriers  under  an  agreement 
with  the  Legislative  Commission  having  as  its  main  purpose  the  adjustment  of 
rates  from  the  west,  and  to  make  substantial  reductions  in  them.  The  negotia- 
tions have  since  taken  a  wider  range  so  as  to  cover  as  many  disputed  matters  as 
could  be  agreed  upon  and  warrant  the  withdrawal  of  the  suits  filed  by  us  against 
the  carriers  before  the  Interstate  Commerce  Commission  in  December,  1912. 

The  present  proposition  offers  such  substantial  reductions  in  rates  from  the 
west  as,  in  our  opinion,  amounts  to  a  compliance  in  good  faith  with  the  original 
agreement,  and  makes  such  adjustment  of  the  matters  involved  in  the  suits  as  we 
believe  warrant  their  withdrawal. 

The  reductions  offered  apply  to  a  very  large  territory,  embracing  the  Buffalo- 
Pittsburg  zone,  and  all  territory  west  thereof  and  north  of  the  Ohio  river,  and  all 
territory  west  of  the  Mississippi  river  to  the  Pacific  Coast. 


92  LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

The  reductions  offered  will  save  the  shippers  of  the  State,  according  to  esti- 
mates made  by  the  carriers  based  on  their  earnings  for  1912,  about  $2,000,000  per 
year,  and  are  the  largest  and  most  comprehensive  concessions  in  freight  rates  ever 
made  by  the  railroads  to  any  State  at  one  time. 

It  is  one  of  the  greatest  achievements  in  railroad  rate  regulation  ever  gained 
by  any  State  by  any  means,  and  has  been  done  in  a  remarkably  short  time  and  at 
insignificant  expense  as  compared  to  the  magnitude  of  the  matter. 

It  does  not  settle  all  questions  in  dispute,  but  those  not  agreed  upon  are  left 
open  so  that  anything  omitted  can  be  later  adjusted,  and  the  agreement  as  to  those 
settled  remains  in  force  for  two  years. 

This  will  afford  a  reasonable  time  for  the  trial  of  this  adjustment  to  see  what 
its  effect  will  be  upon  the  roads,  and  what  the  benefits  will  be  to  the  State.  At 
the  end  of  that  time  such  changes  may  be  made  as  experience  may  show  to  be 
wise,  and  alterations  in  transportation  conditions  may  require. 

The  Corporation  Commission  has  from  time  to  time  advised  with  the  Inter- 
state Commerce  Commission  in  respect  to  the  matters  involved,  and  at  the  con- 
clusion of  the  negotiations  went  over  the  entire  proposition  of  the  earners  with 
Hon.  Edgar  E.  Clark,  Chairman  of  the  Interstate  Commerce  Commission,  and 
asked  his  advice  as  to  whether  or  not  the  State  should  accept  it.  He  unhesitatingly 
advised  its  acceptance,  and  expressed  the  opinion  that  it  would  be  of  great  advan- 
tage to  the  State. 

After  much  study  of  the  whole  subject,  and  a  mature  consideration  of  all  the 
circumstances  and  conditions,  the  Corporation  Commission  unanimously  recom- 
mends the  acceptance  of  the  proposition,  with  the  firm  conviction  that  it  will 
save  to  the  people  a  large  amount  of  money  and  give  renewed  impetus  to  our 
industrial  and  commercial  development. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

E.   L.    Travis,   Chairman. 


A.  J.  Maxwell,  Clerk. 


W.  T.  Lee,  Commissioner. 
Geokge    P.    Pell,    Commissioner. 


(5) 

MESSAGE  TO  THE  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY,  EXTRA  SESSION,  TRANS- 
MITTING REPORT  OF  CORPORATION  COMMISSION  OF  NEGOTIA- 
TIONS FOR  ADJUSTMENT  OF  INTERSTATE  FREIGHT  RATES 

September,  1913. 
To  the  Honorable,  The  General  Assembly  of  North  Carolina: 

I  transmit  to  you  herewith  the  report  of  the  Corporation  Commission  of 
negotiations  for  adjustment  of  Interstate  Freight  Rates,  made  on  August  5,  1913, 
with  an  amendment  made  on  September  19,  1913. 

If  the  proposals  for  reduction  of  transportation  charges  contained  in  this 
report  be  accepted,  the  reduced  rates  are  to  go  into  effect  without  delay,  and  the 
acceptance  by  the  State  of  the  proposals  therein  contained  will  be  a  settlement 
of  all  pending  differences  between  the  State  of  North  Carolina  and  the  railways 


REDUCTION  OF  FREIGHT  RATES  93 

in  respect  to  rates  on  interstate  traffic  therein  adjusted,  for  a  period  of  at  least 
two  years  from  the  time  of  such  acceptance. 

I  refer  this  report,  with  the  proposals,  to  the  representatives  of  the  people, 
that  they  may  determine  what  shall  be  done. 

The  carriers  make  definite  proposals,  in  substance  as  follows: 

1.  From  northern  and  eastern  territory  all  rail  rates  on  through  freight  shall 
in  no  case  exceed  combinations  of  local  rates.  This  is  not  a  concession,  but  an 
agreement  to  comply  with  the  law,  which  ought  never  to  have  been  violated ;  but 
we  would  obtain  this  benefit  without  resort  to  the  courts. 

2.  From  the  Buffalo-Pittsburg  territory,  substantial  reductions  on  all  impor- 
tant iron  and  steel  commodities. 

3.  From  western  territory,  reductions  to  the  zones  of  the  State  specifically 
set  out  in  the  report.  This  western  territory  embraces  all  points  east  of  the 
Buffalo-Pittsburg  zone,  north  of  the  Ohio  Biver,  and  west  of  the  Mississippi  Biver. 

4.  From  all  furniture  points  in  the  State  to  the  far  west,  rates  on  furniture 
equal  to  the  rates  now  in  force  from  the  Virginia  cities,  and  to  the  territory  east 
of  the  Bocky  Mountains,  a  reduction  of  $12  per  car-load  on  mixed  furniture. 

5.  Commodity  rates  on  inbound  freight  to  the  city  of  Asheville  and  related 
territory  set  out  on  pages  25  and  26  of  the  report  of  the  Corporation  Commission 
and  on  pages  10  and  11  of  the  amendment. 

In  addition  to  the  above  unconditional  proposals,  the  carriers  agree  to  further 
reduce  rates  from  northern  and  eastern  territory,  and  from  the  Buffalo-Pittsburg 
zone,  on  condition  that  they  secure  the  consent  of  their  northern  and  eastern 
connections. 

I  have  devoted  to  this  question  most  earnest  thought.  I  have  had  the  assistance 
and  cooperation  of  experts  in  freight  rates,  and  have  taken  counsel  with  the 
Legislative  Freight  Bate  Commission  and  with  officers  and  members  of  the  Just 
Freight  Bate  Association,  with  the  Corporation  Commission,  and  with  the  Council 
of  State.  It  is  my  duty  under  the  Constitution  to  express  to  you  my  views  and 
conclusions.  In  the  discharge  of  this  duty,  I  recommend  that  the  proposals  as 
above  set  out  be  accepted. 

In  the  original  proposition  there  were  conditions  that  made  acceptance  impos- 
sible. These  have  been  eliminated,  and  the  proposition  has  been  amended  to  the 
decided  advantage  of  the  State.  As  it  now  stands,  I  believe  that  it  makes  a  reduc- 
tion reasonable  under  the  present  rate  system.  I  know  that  it  makes  a  substan- 
tial reduction.  In  my  opinion,  it  is  a  fair  compliance  in  good  faith  with  the 
understanding  between  representatives  of  the  State  and  representatives  of  the 
carriers  in  conference  at  Baleigh  on  February   26,  1913. 

The  acceptance  of  these  proposals  would  save  to  our  people  a  vast  amount  of 
money,  and  enable  the  cities  and  towns  of  North  Carolina  to  compete  on  equal 
terms  with  the  cities  of  other  States. 

The  saving  in  freight  rates  would  be  a  substantial  gain,  but  the  greater  con- 
sideration is  the  opportunity  for  business  that  lower  rates  would  offer.  Our 
prosperity  would  increase,  and  our  industries  be  encouraged  to  the  extent  of  the 
reduction  on  the  cost  of  transportation. 

The  proposed  reductions  are,  in  my  opinion,  as  much  or  more  than  we  could 
secure  under  the  present  system  and  construction  of  the  law  through  the  Inter- 
state Commerce  Commission,  even  by  long  and  expensive  litigation.  Under  this 
proposition,  we  would  secure  the  benefits  of  the  reduction  with  little  expense,  and 
as  soon  as  the  rates  could  be  put  into  effect. 


94         LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OP  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

Shall  we  accept  these  proposals  and  save  to  the  State  a  vast  sum  of  money, 
and  vouchsafe  to  her  industries  increasing  prosperity,  without  compromising  the 
dignity  of  the  State  and  without  yielding  our  right  to  proceed  for  any  further 
reductions  in  rates  not  provided  for  in  the  adjustment;  or  shall  we  reject  them, 
and  make  war  upon  the  carriers  to  compel  greater  reductions?  By  the  acceptance, 
there  are  no  limitations,  expressed  or  implied,  upon  the  State.  Within  her  juris- 
diction the  State  will  exercise  her  sovereign  power  according  to  the  dictates  of 
her  own  conscience  in  the  making  and  the  administration  of  law.  No  one  can 
barter  away  this  right,  if  he  would. 

I  want  peace,  but  I  prefer  war  to  an  ignominous  peace.  I  really  want  peace, 
and  peace  on  the  terms  proposed  is  an  honorable  peace. 

I  fully  realize  that  we  are  not  getting  all  to  which  we  are  entitled ;  but  it  is 
much.     It  is  a  move  in  the  direction  of  complete  justice. 

If  the  issue  with  the  railroads  were  within  the  jurisdiction  of  the  State, 
justice  would  be  decreed  by  statute,  and  enforced.  But  the  power  of  the  State 
cannot  directly  control  this  matter.  We  contend  under  disadvantages — against 
a  long  established  system  recognized  by  Federal  statute  and   authority. 

The  existing  rate  structure  has  been  developed  by  the  arbitrary  will  of  the 
carriers ;  it  has  resulted  in  all  manner  of  extortion  and  injustice ;  it  must  be 
revised.  There  is  no  competition  between  railroads ;  the  people  can  expect  no 
protection  from  competition ;  the  law  must  fix  and  regulate  rates.  The  rate  for 
any  point  should  be  determined  by  the  relative  cost  of  the  haul.  This  axiomatic 
principle  can  be  established  only  in  the  Federal  jurisdiction ;  not  until  it  be 
established  can  we  have  complete  relief  from  the  injustice  under  which  we  have 
long  suffered. 

The  present  method  of  fixing  rates  by  the  arbitrary  power  of  the  railroads  has 
existed  from  the  beginning  of  railroad  transportation.  The  people  have  sub- 
mitted because  they  did  not  know.  Like  the  protective  tariff,  it  has  grown  insidi- 
ously until,  oppressed  by  accumulating  injustice,  the  people  have  awakened  for 
action.  We  cannot  hope  to  uproot  and  destroy  the  whole  evil  at  one  stroke.  We 
must  persevere  on  the  line  laid  down  by  President  Wilson  in  his  discussion  of  the 
tariff.  We  have  begun,  and  will  not  stop.  We  have  put  our  hands  to  the  plow, 
and  will  not  look  back.  Respectfully,  Locke    Ceaig 

Governor. 

(6) 
PROPOSITION  OF  COMMON  CARRIERS 

Washington,  D.  C,  September  12,  1913. 

Rate  Adjustment  :  Rates  to  and  from  Points  in  North  Carolina. 

Honorable  E.  L.  Travis,  Chairman, 

North  Carolina  Corporation  Commission, 
Raleigh,  N.  C. 
Dear    Sir  : — Confirming   understandings   reached   during   conference   of   three 
days  ending  today,  and  summing  up  the  concessions  discussed  in  the  various  con- 
ferences  between   the   Corporation    Commission   and   the   carriers,   we   advise   as 
follows : 


•REDUCTION  OF  FREIGHT  RATES  95 

Subject  to  the  understanding  between  representatives  of  the  State  and  repre- 
sentatives of  the  carriers  in  conference  at  Raleigh,  N.  C,  on  February  26,  1913, 
and  to  the  further  condition  that  the  acceptance  by  the  State  of  the  proposals 
herein  contained  shall  be  a  settlement  of  all  pending  differences  between  the  State 
of  North  Carolina  and  the  railways  in  respect  to  rates  on  interstate  traffic  herein 
adjusted,  for  a  period  of  at  least  two  years  from  the  time  of  such  acceptance,  we 
propose  the  following  revision  of  rates  on  interstate  traffic  to  points  in  North 
Carolina,  viz. : 

BATES    FEOM    THE   WEST 

This  heading  is  intended  to  embrace  points  on  and  north  of  the  Ohio  River, 
west  of  the  Buffalo-Pittsburg  zone  and  points  west  of  the  Mississippi  River  from 
which  rates  are  made  by  the  combination  on  Ohio  and  Mississippi  River  crossings. 

1.  To  establish  proportional  rates  from  one  or  more  of  the  Virginia  cities  to 
points  in  North  Carolina  hereinafter  described,  for  use  in  making  joint  or  through 
rates  from  the  west,  lower  than  the  now  existing  locals  from  the  Virginia  cities, 
as  follows : 

(Note. — The  "existing  locals"  referred  to  do  not  include  the  locals  Roanoke 
to  Winston-Salem  or  Lynchburg  to  Durham  via  Norfolk  and  Western  Railway.) 

A.  To  points  hereinafter  referred  to  as  Zone  1  on  the  line  of  Southern  Rail- 
way North  Wilkesboro  via  Winston-Salem,  and  Greensboro  to  Goldsboro  and 
thence  via  Norfolk  Southern  Railway  to,  but  not  including,  New  Bern  N.  C. ; 
to  Apex,  N.  C. ;  to  Atlantic  Coast  Line  stations  Smithfield  to  Goldsboro ;  and  to 
points  north  of  above  described  line,  except  as  hereinafter  described,  proportional 
rates  lower  than  present  locals  from  Virginia  cities  as  follows : 

Grain.       Flour.      Potatoes.  Special  Iron. 

I  2     3     4     5      6ABCDEHF       C.L.  C.L.  C.L.  C.L.        L.C.L. 

II  886643344558.       5  6  6  3  4 

To  Weldon,  N.  O,  proportional  rates  will  be  established  from  Virginia  cities, 
on  business  from  the  west,  lower  than  the  existing  locals,  to  the  following  extent: 

123456ABCDEHF 
10   775532322512 

Proportional  rates  to  Weldon  made  as  above  to  be  observed  as  maxima  to 
points  on  Atlantic  Coast  Line  and  Seaboard  Air  Line  north  of  Weldon,  and  to 
points  on  Seaboard  Air  Line,  Lewiston  branch;  also  to  points  to  which  present 
rates  from  Virginia  cities  are  on  fifty-five  (55)  cent  scale. 

The  scale  of  proportional  rates  from  Virginia  cities  to  Weldon  to  be  applied 
from  Lynchburg,  via  Southern  Railway,  to  Reidsville,  N.  O,  and  as  maxima  to 
stations  on  Southern  Railway  in  North  Carolina  north  of  Reidsville. 

To  Benaja  and  Brown  Summit,  on  Southern  Railway  between  Reidsville  and 
Greensboro,  reductions  in  cents  per  hundred  pounds  the  same  as  to  Reidsville. 

To  points  on  Norfolk  and  Western  Railway  between  Lynchburg  and  Durham, 
and  between  Roanoke  and  Winston-Salem,  the  following  reductions: 


Grain. 

Flour. 

Potatoes. 

Special  Iron. 

C.L. 

C.L. 

C.L. 

C.L.         L.C.L. 

3 

4 

5 

2                 3 

96 


LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 


Pota- 

A 

B 

C 

D 

E 

H 

F 

Grain. 

Flour. 

toes. 

Special 

Iron. 

Hay 

C.L. 

C.L. 

C.L. 

C.L.     L.C.L. 

C.L. 

0 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

6 

2 

3 

4 

0 

2 

4 

1 

3 

2 

2 

3 

3 

4 

3 

m 

4 

2 

4 

1 

2 

2 

2 

2 

3 

4 

2H 

4 

4 

2 

4 

1 

2 

VA  2 

2 

3 

3 

Vi 

4 

4 

2 

4 

1 

2 

VA 

2 

2 

3 

3 

2 

4 

4 

2 

4 

1 

2 

\l/2 

2 

1 

3 

2 

3H 

3 

5 

1 

1 

2 

V/t 

3 

3 

4 

1 

1 

2 

2H 

3 

4 

1 

0 

2 

2 

3 

5 

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2 

1H 

3 

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l 

3 

5 

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Vi 

i' 

2 

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5 

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0 

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0 

0 

0 

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0 

3 

2 

2 

3 

3 

4 

3 

4 

4 

2 

3 

1 

2 

2 

2 

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4 

3 

m 

4 

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114 

2 

2 

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VA 

m 

4 

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\y, 

2 

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Hi 

2 

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3'/2 

3 

1 

5 

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1 

l 

1 

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2H 

3 

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l 

0 

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H 

a 

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0 

5 

Winston-Salem  Division : 

12  3  4  5  6 

Price 4  6  3  3  3  2 

Stoneville 8  8  4  3  3  2 

Avalon 6  6  3  3  2  2 

Mayodan 6  6  3  3  2  2 

Madison 6  6  3  3  2  2 

Sharps 4  4  2  111 

Pine  Hall 4  4  2  111 

Chisman 4  4  2  111 

Walnut  Cove 2  2  10  11 

Fulp _  2  2  10  11 

Dennis 2  2  10  11 

Walkcrtown 2  0  0  0  0  0 

Winston-Salem...  2  0  0  0  0  0 

Woodsdale 4  6  3  3  3  2 

Roxboro 6  6  3  3  2  2 

Pick 6  6  3  3  2  2 

Helena 4  4  2  111 

Mt.  Tirzah 4  4  2  111 

Lyndover 4  4  2  111 

Rougemont 4  4  2  111 

Bahama 2  2  10  11 

Willardville 2  2  10  11 

Fairntosh 2  2  10  11 

Weaver 2  0  0  0  0  0 

Durham 2  0  0  0  0  0 

B.  To  points  in  Zone  No.  2,  namely:  Statesville  and  Charlotte,  N.  C,  and 
points  on  the  Southern  Railway  between  Statesville  and  Charlotte  and  east  of 
Statesville  and  Charlotte  and  south  of  Zone  No.  1;  to  points  on  the  Winston- 
Salem  Southbound  Railroad ;  points  on  the  Seaboard  Air  Line  Railway  south  of 
Apex  to  Charlotte,  inclusive,  via  Hamlet  and  Monroe,  including  its  branch  line 
Moncure  to  Pittsboro;  all  points  on  the  Randolph  and  Cumberland  Railway;  all 
points  on  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line  south  of  Goldsboro  to  Wrightsboro,  Warsaw  to 
Clinton,  Four  Oaks  to  Fayetteville,  not  including  Fayetteville,  between  Fayette- 
ville  and  Sanford ;  points  on  Raleigh,  Charlotte  and  Southern ;  proportional  rates 
to  be  established  from  Virginia  cities  on  business  from  the  west  to  points  in  this 
zone  lower  than  the  present  local  rates  to  the  extent  hereinbefore  set  out  under 
Zone  No.  1. 

C.  To  points  in  Zone  No.  3,  namely:  on  Seaboard  Air  Line  between  Wilming- 
ton and  Hamlet ;  on  Atlantic  Coast  Line  between  Wilmington  and  Fayetteville. 
Hope  Mills  to  Pembroke,  inclusive ;  Parkton  to  Maxton,  inclusive ;  all  points  on  the 
Virginia  and  Carolina  Southern  and  on  the  Aberdeen  and  Rockfish  railroads ;  pro- 
portional rates  from  Virginia  cities  to  be  lower  than  present  locals  to  the  same 
extent  as  in  Zones  Nos.  1  and  2. 

D.  To  Zone  No.  4,  namely:  points  on  Atlantic  Coast  Line  west  of  Wilmington 
to  Fair  Bluff,  inclusive ;  points  south  of  Pembroke  and  south  of  Maxton ;  points 
Elrod  to  Mount  Tabor,  inclusive;  points  on  Raleigh  and  Charleston;  propor- 
tional rates  from  Virginia  cities  on  business  from  the  west  to  be  lower  than  the 
present  locals  to  the  following  extent : 

123456ABCDEHF 
5555211122224 

E.  To  points  in  North  Carolina  west  of  Charlotte  and  Statesville  rates  from 
the  west  cannot  be  controlled  by  the  application  of  proportional  rates  south  of 


Grain. 

Flour. 

Potatoes. 

Special  Iron. 

C.L. 

C.L. 

C.L. 

C.L.        L.C.L. 

3 

4 

3 

1                1 

REDUCTION  OF  FREIGHT  RATES  97 

Virginia  cities.  Therefore,  the  following  specific  reductions  are  to  be  made  in 
rates  from  Cincinnati  and  Louisville,  from  Ohio  River  crossings  west  of  Louis- 
ville, from  St.  Louis  and  from  Mississippi  Eiver  crossings  south  thereof,  and  from 
points  basing  thereon  or  made  with  relation  thereto,  namely: 

Gastonia  and  points  on  Southern  Railway  between  Gastonia  and  Charlotte: 

Grain.        Flour.      Potatoes.  Special  Iron. 

1      2     3     4     5      6ABCDEHF       C.L.  C.L.  C.L.  C.L.        L.C.L. 

9855312344268  5  6  3  2  1 

Hickory  and  Lincolnton : 

Grain.        Flour.      Potatoes.  Special  Iron. 

123456     A    BCDEHF       C.L.  C.L.  C.L.  C.L.       L.C.L. 

11      855312362568  3  6  3  2  1 

Eevised  Hickory  rates  to  be  maxima  to  points  west  of  Hickory. 
To  Asheville,  N".  C,  following  specific  reductions  from  Ohio  River  crossings- 
etc. : 

Grain.        Flour,      Potatoes.  Special  Iron. 

123456ABCDEHF       C.L.  C.L.  C.L.  C.L.        L.C.L. 

5425562772555  3  8  8  4  6 

And  in  addition  to  the  above  reductions  in  class  rates  to  Asheville,  commodity 
rates  are  to  be  established  on  the  following  articles  in  car-load  lots,  causing  reduc- 
tions from  Ohio  River  crossings,  etc.,  as  shown  below : 

Commodities.  Reduction. 

Agricultural   implements,    rated   6th   class   in    Southern    Classification,    mixed 

with  farm  wagons  without  springs,   min.   wt.   20,000   lhs.,   CL 10 

Agricultural    implements,    viz.,    harvesting    machinery    and    binder's    twine, 

mixed,    min.    wt.    24,000    lbs.,    CL 10 

Agricultural  cultivating  implements,  straight  or  mixed,  CL.,  min.  wt.  20,000 
lbs.,  viz.,  corn  planters,  cotton  choppers,  cotton  planters,  cultivators,  field 
rollers,  grain  drills,  guano  distributors,  harrows,  plows,  potato  diggers, 
potato  planters,  seed  sowers  (not  hand),  stalk  cutters  (field)  trans- 
planters  and  parts  thereof  when  shipped   with   implements  named 10 

Beams,   plow,   and   plow  handles,   in   the   rough  or  in   the  white,   straight   or 

mixed,    min.    wt.    20,000    lbs.,    CL 10 

Canned  goods,  viz.,  beef,  pork,  sausage,  tripe,  and  meats  and  vegetables,  com- 
bined, in  tin  cans,   packed   in   boxes   or  barrels,   CL 9 

Crackers,  bread,  cakes  and  cracker  meal,  packed,  CL.,  as  per  Note  39,  South- 
eastern   Tariff    No.    8 5 

Flour,    CL 8 

Jars,  fruit  and  jelly  glasses,  straight  or  mixed,  CL 10 

Glass,  rough  or  ribbed,  CL;  glass  window  (not  plate),  CL 6 

Grain,  CL 3 

Iron  and  steel  articles,  viz.,  sheet  iron  and  sheet  steel,  not  planished  or  pol- 
ished, min.  wt.  30,000  lbs.,  CL 12 

Iron  roofing  (see  note  53,  page  136,  Southeastern  Tariff  No.  8),  black  or 
galvanized,  plain  or  corrugated,  and  steel  or  iron  siding,  stamped  in  imi- 
tation of  brick  or  stone,  straight  or  mixed,  with  sheet  iron  or  sheet  steel 

(not  planished  or  polished),  min.  wt.  40,000  lbs 12 

Special  iron,  min.  wt.  30,000  lbs.,  CL 0 

Same,  LCL  0 

Meats,  fresh,  min.  wt.  24,000  lbs.  (see  Notes  55  and  56,  page  136,  Southeastern 

Tariff  No.   8),   CL 10 

7 


98  LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

Commodities.  Reduction 

Packing  house  products  (see  Notes  55  and  56,  Southeastern  Tariff  No.  8),  CL. .  7 

Oatmeal,  rolled  oats,  rolled,  cracked,  crushed  or  flaked  rye,  flaked,  rolled,  pearl 
barley  and  hominy  grits,  not  cooked,  packed  or  in  barrels,  kegs,  drums,  or 

half  barrels,  or  in  cotton  or  in  gunny  sacks,  CL 11 

Pickles,  in  wood  or  in  glass,  straight  or  mixed,  CL 6 

Pickles,  vinegar,  sauerkraut,  mustard  (prepared),  horse  radish,  catsup,  table 
sauce  or  olives,  in  glass  or  earthenware,  packed  or  in  wood,  mixed  with 
preserves,  fruit  butters  or  jellies,  in  glass,  earthenware  or  cans,  packed 

or  in  wood,   CL 9 

Powder,  soap,  straight  or  when  mixed  with  washing  compounds,  not  liquid, 
and  soap  in  boxes  or  barrels,  agreed  to  be  of  value  not  exceeding  5  cents 
per  lb.,  and  so  expressed  in  bill  of  lading.  (See  Rule  2,  Southern  Classi- 
fication), CL   5 

Salt,    CL 5 

Soap,  in  boxes  or  barrels,  agreed  to  be  of  value  of  not  exceeding  5  cents  per 
pound  and  so  expressed   in  bill  of  lading,  or  when  mixed  with  washing 

compounds,  not  liquid,  or  soap  powders,  CL 5 

Soda,  hi-carbonate,  in  sacks,  kegs,  barrels,  or  casks,  and  in  pails,  crated,  min. 

wt.  30,000  pounds,  CL 10 

Starch,  packed  or  in  sacks,  CL 2 

Stoves  and  ranges  (except  alcohol,  gas,  gasoline,  oil  and  vapor  stoves  and 
ranges),  hollo wware,  stove  and  range  furniture,  grate  frames,  baskets,  fix- 
tures, stove  boards  and  stove  pipe  (side  seams  not  closed)  (CL  shipments 
not  crated  or  boxed  must  be  so  braced  in  car  as  to  prevent  shifting  of  the 

load  and  to  insure  safe  transportation) 10 

Wooden  and  paper  butter  dishes  and  plates,  min.  wt.  24,000  lbs.,   CL 10 

Class  rates  to  points  on  the  Southern  Railway  west  of  Waynesville,  east  of 
Hendersonville,  and  to  points  on  its  Toxaway  branch  to  he  reduced  in  line  with 
reductions  to  Waynesville  and  Hendersonville  respectively.  To  points  on  these 
branches,  and  to  points  west  of  Marion,  car-load  commodity  rates  to  be  established 
in  line  with  those  provided  for  to  Asheville  wherever  necessary  to  bring  about 
proper  relationship  between  the  car-load  commodity  rates  to  Asheville  and  rates 
on  like  commodities  to  said  other  points. 

KATES  FROM  EASTERN  SEABOARD  TERRITORY 

This  heading  is  intended  to  embrace  all  territory  lying  in  and  east  of  the 
Buffalo-Pittsburg  zone. 

The  carriers  are  in  negotiation  for  readjustment  of  rates  from  this  territory, 
via  all  rail,  recognizing  combinations  of  locals  as  maxima,  advocating  a  continu- 
ance of  existing  relations  between  the  rates  from  the  ports  and  those  from  the 
interior,  and  the  application  of  current  Rochester  rates  as  maxima  from  points 
in  the  Buffalo- Pittsburg  zone. 

The  success  of  these  negotiations  is  dependent  upon  the  concurrence  of  orig- 
inating and  connnecting  lines. 

It  is  generally  known  that  the  Northern  and  Eastern  roads  are  engaged  in  a 
general  revision  of  tariffs.  The  effect  of  combinations  may  not,  therefore,  be 
accurately  forecasted. 

What  follows  as  to  the  changes  which  may  be  made  in  the  rates  from  this  terri- 
tory is  contingent  upon  the  acceptance  by  connections  of  these  companies. 


REDUCTION  OF  FREIGHT  RATES  99 

If  the  basis  of  rates  advocated  by  these  companies  can  be  brought  about,  rates 
from  Buffalo  and  Pittsburg  will  be  reduced  approximately  as  follows: 

12      3      4      5      6 

Buffalo 12    11    10      3      3      3 

Pittsburg _ 10      9      8      2      2      2 

Rates  all-rail  from  eastern  ports  proper  and  from  interior  points  related 
thereto,  in  the  event  the  negotiations  referred  to  are  successful,  would  be  reduced 
approximately  as  follows :  123456 

New  York 3      5      5      3      4      4 

Philadelphia. 5      7      7      5      5      5 

Baltimore 3      4      4      3      2      2 

contingent  on  the  continuance  of  the  eastern  lines  existing  locals. 

It  should  be  clearly  understood  that  an  advance  of  five  (5%)  per  cent  in  the 
existing  locals  of  the  eastern  lines  is  in  contemplation  and  will  probably  be  made. 

There  is  also  uncertainty  whether  the  present  relationship  of  all  interior  eastern 
points  will  be  continued.  It  is  not  believed,  however,  that  any  substantial  change 
will  be  made  in  that  relationship. 

As  explained  to  you,  it  is  not  within  the  power  of  these  lines  to  make  any  more 
definite  statement  than  the  above  with  respect  to  this  adjustment  from  the  Eastern 
Seaboard  Territory.  If  the  proposals  herein  contained  are  accepted  by  the  State, 
we  will  at  once  proceed  with  and  diligently  pursue  negotiations  with  eastern  con- 
nections. 

With  respect  to  rates  on  iron  and  steel  articles  from  Pittsburg,  we  will,  as 
agreed  with  you,  undertake  to  establish  a  car-load  rate  of  thirty-two  and  one-half 
(32%)  cents  on  bolts,  nuts,  structural  iron,  nails,  spikes,  bar  iron,  cotton  ties  and 
other  articles  of  iron  and  steel  manufacture,  the  rates  on  which  north  and  south 
of  Virginia  gateways,  are  the  same  as  on  the  articles  above  mentioned ;  and  a  rate 
of  thirty-five  and  one-half  (SS1/?)  cents  on  woven-wire  fencing,  sheet-iron  roofing, 
and  tin  plate  in  car-loads,  and  on  other  articles  of  iron  and  steel  manufacture  the 
rates  on  which,  north  and  south  of  Virginia  gateways,  are  the  same  as  on  the 
articles  above  mentioned. 

These  rates  represent  reductions  of  three  cents  on  the  first  item  and  of  four 
cents  on  the  second  item. 

Commodity  rates  on  these  articles  to  other  points  in  North  Carolina  will  be 
established,  using  the  same  basis  as  that  used  in  making  rates  to  points  in  Zone 
Wo.  1. 

Commodity  rates  on  these  articles  in  less  than  car-loads  will  be  established 
from  Pittsburg  representing  reductions  of  two  and  one-half  (2%)  cents  per  hun- 
dred pounds  to  all  points  in  Zone  No.  1. 

These  rates  will  be  affected  by  any  changes  which  may  be  made  in  the  charges 
north  of  Virginia  gateways. 

Predicated  on  the  continuance  of  existing  locals  and  the  continuance  of  the 
existing  grouping,  and  on  the  adoption  of  the  Rochester  basis  advocated  by  us  as 
maxima  from  Buffalo  and  Pittsburg,  the  reductions  in  car-load  ratings  to  be 
accomplished  by  the  observance  of  combinations  of  locals  as  maxima,  are  fairly 
illustrative  by  the  following : 

Hardware,  NOS,  as  per  official  classification,  from  New  England  points  taking 
Boston  rates,  to  the  principal  destinations  in  North  Carolina,  7  cents  per  hundred 
pounds. 


100        LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

From  actual  shipping  points  in  New  York  and  Philadelphia  territory  reduc- 
tions on  molasses  and  glucocse,  in  car-loads,  on  amounts  ranging  from  one  and 
one-half  (1%)  to  five  (5)  cents  per  hundred  pounds. 

Glassware  rated  fourth  class  in  official  classification,  from  actual  shipping 
points  in  the  Pittsburg  district  to  the  principal  destinations  in  North  Carolina, 
11  cents. 

Glass  bottles,  car-load,  from  Glassboro,  1ST.  J.,  to  the  principal  destinations  in 
North  Carolina,  one  (1)  cent  per  hundred  pounds. 

These  reductions  will  be  greater  in  the  event  the  basis  we  are  seeking  to  estab- 
lish is  made  effective. 

From  New  York  and  Philadelphia,  crackers,  car-load,  four  cents;  canned 
goods,  car-load,  four  to  six  cents;  soap,  from  three  to  five  cents,  to  the  principal 
destinations. 

Roofing  paper  from  York,  Pa.,  one  and  one-half  (1%)  cents;  from  Downing- 
ton,  Pa.,  four  cents;  tin  cans  from  Baltimore,  two  cents;  petroleum  and  its  prod- 
ucts from  Marcus  Hook,  Pa.,  reductions  ranging  from  one  and  one-half  (I-V2)  to 
four  and  one-half  (4%)  cents;  and  on  strawboard  from  Pencoyd,  Pa.,  two  cents. 

The  measure  of  these  reductions  may  be  affected  as  hereinbefore  indicated  with 
respect  to  the  general  adjustment  from  the  interior  east  by  conclusions  of  our 
eastern  connections  with  respect  to  the  locals  north  of  the  gateways  and  likewise 
with  respect  to  the  grouping  of  interior  points. 

We  showed  you  during  the  conference  this  week  some  of  our  working  sheets, 
on  which  tentative  figures  have  been  made,  indicating  the  effect  of  the  basis  that 
we  have  proposed  to  our  eastern  connections  upon  class  rates  and  a  large  number 
of  commodity  rates  from  the  eastern  ports  proper  and  from  the  interior,  in  the 
event  the  present  relationship  between  the  ports  and  the  interior  is  maintained. 
It  is  practically  impossible  to  include  in  this  letter  a  comprehensive  statement  of 
these  figures. 

Furthermore,  as  explained  to  you,  these  proposed  changes  have  not  been  sub- 
mitted to  our  eastern  connections,  and  it  is  not  in  our  power  to  now  state  to  you 
definitely  that  they  will  be  established. 

MISCELLANEOUS 

It  is  our  purpose  to  establish  a  line  of  class  rates  from  North  Carolina  terri- 
tory to  Ohio  Eiver  crossings  and  St.  Louis,  observing  the  following  figures  as 
maxima  from  points  in  North  Carolina  to  Cincinnati  and  Louisville: 

1  2         3         4         5  6 

100        85        72        57       48        39 

governed  by  southern  classification. 

With  respect  to  commodities  manufactured  at  Atlanta,  Chattanooga,  and  Knox- 
ville,  and  also  manufactured  in  Nashville,  Tenn.,  it  is  the  purpose  of  the 
carriers  to  observe  the  Nashville  rates  as  maxima. 

To  Evansville,  Cairo  and  St.  Louis  we  will  apply  the  same  differentials 
westbound  as  used  in  making  the  present  eastbound  rates. 

We  will  undertake  to  establish  by  addition  to  the  associated  railways  excep- 
tion sheet  rates  on  glue,  car-load,  30,000  pounds  minimum,  on  sixth  class  basis. 

On  inbound  traffic  from  the  Pacific  coast  we  will  authorize  the  application 
south  of  Virginia  cities  of  the  proportional  rates  established  on  business  from  the 
west,  as  hereinbefore  described. 


■REDUCTION  OF  FREIGHT  RATES  101 

The  car-load  rates  herein  provided  on  potatoes  will  apply  on  the  following 
description :  "Vegetables,  viz. :  Apples,  Pears,  Beets,  Cabbage,  Onions,  Turnips, 
and  Potatoes,  straight  or  mixed  CL  (potatoes  in  straight  CL,  min.  wt.,  May  1st 
to  October  31st,  inclusive,  24,000  lbs.,  and  from  November  1st  to  April  30th, 
inclusive,  30,000  lbs.)." 

The  car-load  rates  on  grain  herein  provided  will  include  all  classes  of  grain 
and  the  products  thereof  that  are  embraced  in  class  D  of  Southern  Classification. 

We  have  undertaken  a  revision  of  rates  on  bananas  from  Mobile  to  North 
Carolina  destinations  in  car-loads,  involving  reductions  to  representative  points 
as  follows:  Raleigh  and  Greensboro,  11  cents;  Salisbury,  12  cents;  Charlotte,  13 
cents ;  Asheville,  13  cents  per  hundred  pounds. 

To  points  to  which  the  present  rates  have  been  depressed  by  water  competition 
reductions  will  not  be  made  except  to  make  the  rates  thereto  not  higher  than  to 
the  next  intermediate  point. 

Norfolk  ajsb  "Western  Railway, 

By  J.  R.  Runrsr, 
Freight  Traffic  Manager. 

Southern-  Railway  Company, 

By  L.  Geeen, 
Freight  Traffic  Manager. 

Atlantic  Coast  Line  R.  R.  Co., 

By  James  Menzies, 
Freight  Traffic  Manager. 

Seaboard  Air  Line  Railway, 

By  L.  E.  Chalenor, 
Freight  Traffic  Manager. 


CO 

LETTER  TO  FRED  N.  TATE,  CHAIRMAN  JUST  FREIGHT  RATE 

ASSOCIATION,  TRANSMITTING  PROPOSITION 

OF  COMMON  CARRIERS 

State  of  North  Carolina 
Governor's  Office 
Raleigh 
Mr.  Fred  N.  Tate,  Chairman,  September  19,  1913. 

Just  Freight  Rate  Association, 

High  Point,  N.  C. 
Dear  Sir: — I  hand  you  herewith  a  proposition  by  the  common  carriers  oper- 
ating in  North  Carolina.     You  will  please  consider  the  reduction   proposed   in 
rates  for  the  transportation  of  merchandise  brought  into  this  State. 

I  hope  that,  as  soon  as  possible,  you  will  give  me  your  opinion  as  to  the  advis- 
ability of  accepting  this  proposition  as  an  adjustment  of  these  rates  for  two  years. 

Yours  truly,  LoCKE  ^ 

Governor. 


102        LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

(8) 

LETTER  TO  FREIGHT  RATE  COMMISSION,  TRANSMITTING 
PROPOSITION  OF  COMMON  CARRIERS 

State  of  ]SToeth  Carolina 

Governor's  Office 

Raleigh 

September  19,  1913. 

Messrs.  E.  J.  Justice,  W.  B.  Councill,  and  N".  B.  Broughton, 
Freight  Rate  Commission. 
Gentlemen  : — I  hand  you  herewith  a  proposition  hy  the  common  carriers  oper- 
ating in  North  Carolina.     You  will  please   consider  the  reduction  proposed  in 
rates  for  the  transportation  of  merchandise  brought  into  this  State. 

I  hope  that,  as  soon  as  possible,  you  will  give  me  your  opinion  as  to  the  advis- 
ability of  accepting  this  proposition  as  an  adjustment  of  these  rates  for  two  years. 

Yours  truly,  LocKE  Ceaig? 

Governor. 


(9) 

"RATE  ADJUSTMENT"— LETTER  FROM  FREIGHT  TRAFFIC 

MANAGER,  SOUTHERN  RAILWAY,  TO  CHAIRMAN 

CORPORATION  COMMISSION 

{Copy) 
Southern  Railway  Company 

Washington,  D.  C,  September  20,  1913. 

Rate  Adjustment  :  Rates  to  and  from  points  in  North  Carolina. 

Honorable  E.  L.  Travis,  Chairman, 

North  Carolina  Corporation  Commission, 
Raleigh,  N.  C. 

Dear  Sir: — During  our  conference  in  Washington  September  10th-12th,  in- 
clusive, you  gave  me  some  memoranda,  prepared  by  the  secretary  of  the  Southern 
Furniture  Manufacturers'  Association,  relating  to  the  rates  on  furniture  from 
North  Carolina  factories  to  the  West  and  to  points  in  Louisiana,  which  memoranda 
I  herewith  return. 

During  the  conference  referred  to  we  agreed  to  take  up  this  question  of  furni- 
ture rates  on  its  merits  and  advise  you  what,  if  any,  concessions' the  carriers  could 
make. 

I  beg  to  now  advise  that  after  consideration  of  the  matter,  we  submit  the  fol- 
lowing conclusion : 


•REDUCTION  OF  FREIGHT  RATES  103 

1.  That  as  to  rates  on  mixed  furniture,  car-load,  classified  second  class  in  the 
Official  Classification,  from  North  Carolina  factories  to  Chicago,  St.  Paul,  Minne- 
apolis, and  Duluth,  we  will  make  a  reduction  of  ten  (10)  cents  per  hundred  pounds; 
and  that  as  to  tables,  car-loads,  classified  fourth  class  in  Official  Classification,  to 
the  same  destinations,  we  will  make  a  reduction  of  seven  (7)  cents  per  hundred 
pounds. 

Of  course,  where  rates  to  points  other  than  Chicago  are  now  made  by  combina- 
tion on  Chicago,  reductions  will  correspond  to  the  Chicago  rate. 

To  Spokane  (Washington),  Tucson  (Arizona),  and  points  taking  same  rates, 
we  will,  with  the  concurrence  of  connections,  establish  same  rates  as  from  Virginia 
Cities  on  all  classes  of  furniture  from  North  Carolina  factories. 

To  the  Louisiana  points  referred  to  in  the  attached  memoranda,  to  which  the 
present  furniture  rates  from  Worth  Carolina  points  are  two  (2)  cents  higher  than 
from  the  Virginia  Cities,  we  will,  with  the  concurrence  of  our  connections,  have 
the  rates  placed  on  the  Virginia  Cities  basis.  To  other  points  in  Louisiana  to 
which  the  Virginia  Cities  rates  are  now  made  by  water-line  routes  through  the 
Gulf,  it  is  not  believed  that  the  North  Carolina  rates  can  be  placed  on  the  Virginia 
Cities  basis,  because  the  business  would  be  unprofitable. 

If,  however,  any  modification  can  be  worked  out  whereby  the  North  Carolina 
rates  to  these  Louisiana  points  may  be  reduced,  we  will  undertake  to  do  it. 

The  question  of  these  rates  to  Louisiana  points  is  now  on  the  docket  for  dis- 
cussion by  the  carriers  at  a  meeting  to  be  held  in  Asheville  beginning  October  16th, 
and  was  listed  at  the  request  of  Secretary  Ryan  of  the  Southern  Furniture  Manu- 
facturers' Association. 

Vou  understand  that  there  is  no  movement  of  furniture  from  the  Virginia 

Cities-  Yours  tvvlJ>  (Signed)     L.  Green, 

Freight  Traffic  Manager. 


(10) 

PROCLAMATION  BY  THE  GOVERNOR,  APPOINTING  SPECIAL  FREIGHT 
RATE  COMMISSION.     NOVEMBER  18,  1913 

State  of  North  Carolina 

Executive  Department 

Raxeigh 

A  Proclamation  by  the  Governor 

The  General  Assembly  of  North  Carolina  at  its  Special  Session,  1913,  having 
enacted  a  statute  entitled  "An  act  to  fix  and  provide  machinery  for  fixing  rates  to 
be  charged  by  railroads  for  transporting  freight  within  the  State  of  North  Caro- 
lina," being  chapter  20,  Public  Laws  Extra  Session,  1913,  and  having  provided  in 
the  said  statute  for  the  classification  and  transportation  of  freight  by  railroad 
companies,  and  having  fixed  the  rates  which  such  railroad  companies,  as  common 
carriers,  are  entitled  to  charge  for  the  transportation  of  freight  in  the  State  of 
North  Carolina  from  and  after  sixty  days  from  the  ratification  of  the  said  statute, 


104        LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

and  having  further  provided  in  the  said  statute  that  "should  any  one  or  more  of 
the  common  carriers  affected  by  the  rates  prescribed  in  this  act  make  representa- 
tion to  the  Governor  of  the  State  that  the  rates  herein  provided  are  or  would  be 
confiscatory  or  unreasonable,  and  the  Governor  should  be  of  the  opinion  that  such 
complaint  is  in  good  faith  and  that  there  is  good  and  sufficient  reason  for  investi- 
gating the  facts,  then  the  Governor  shall  be  and  he  is  hereby  empowered  to  appoint 
a  special  commission  of  not  more  than  three  persons  to  immediately  investigate 
the  facts  and  make  report  of  their  findings  to  him" : 

And  under  the  provisions  of  the  said  statute,  the  Southern  Railway  Company 
Atlantic  Coast  Line  Railroad  Company,  Seaboard  Air  Line  Railway  Company, 
Norfolk  and  Western  Railway  Company,  Norfolk  Southern  Railroad  Company. 
Virginia  and  Carolina  Railroad  Company,  Atlantic  and  Western  Railroad  Com- 
pany, Carolina  and  Northwestern  Railway  Company,  Carolina  and  Yadkin  River 
Railroad  Company,  Winston-Salem  Southbound  Railway  Company,  Bonlee  and 
Western  Railway  Company,  Laurinburg  and  Southern  Railroad  Company,  Rock- 
ingham Railroad  Company,  and  Washington  and  Vandemere  Railroad  Company, 
common  carriers,  operating  and  doing  business  in  the  State  of  North  Carolina  and 
affected  by  the  rates  prescribed  in  the  act,  having  made  in  writing  representation 
to  the  Governor  of  the  State  that  the  rates  in  the  said  statute  provided  are  or  will 
be  confiscatory  and  unreasonable  : 

And  the  Governor  being  of  the  opinion  that  such  complaints  are  in  good  faith 
and  that  there  is  good  and  sufficient  reason  for  investigating  the  facts : 

Now,  therefore,  I,  Locke  Craig,  Governor  of  the  State  of  North  Carolina,  in 
the  exercise  of  the  power  conferred  upon  me  by  the  said  statute,  do  appoint  a 
special  commission  of  three  persons  to  immediately  investigate  the  facts  and  make 
report  of  their  findings  to  me  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  the  statute 
herein  referred  to. 

And  in  the  exercise  of  such  power  I  do  appoint  as  members  of  said  commission : 

Michael  Hoke  Justice,  of  the  County  of  Rutherford, 
William  Louis  Poteat,  of  the  County  of  Wake, 
Alfred  Augustus  Thompson,  of  the  County  of  Wake. 

And  I  do  constitute  the  aforesaid  persons  the  commission  provided  for. 
The  special  commission  hereby  created  will  proceed  in  the  exercise  of  the  powers 
and  in  the  discharge  of  the  duties  prescribed  by  the  statute  above  mentioned. 

Done  at  our  city  of  Raleigh,  this  the  eighteenth  day  of  November,  in 
[great     the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  nine  hundred  and  thirteen,  and  in  the 
seal]     one  hundred  and  thirty-eighth  year  of  our  American  independence. 

Locke  Craig, 
By  the  Governor:  Governor. 

Jno.  P.  Kerr, 

Private  Secretary. 


REDUCTION  OF  FREIGHT  RATES  105 

(11) 

PROCLAMATION  BY  THE  GOVERNOR,  POSTPONING  OPERATION  OF 

ACT  OF  SPECIAL  SESSION  1913  IN  REGARD  TO  FREIGHT  RATES, 

PENDING  INVESTIGATION  OF  SPECIAL  FREIGHT  RATE 

COMMISSION.     JANUARY  23,  1913 

State  of  North  Carolina 

Executive  Department 

Raxeigh 

A  Proclamation  by  the  Governor 

The  General  Assembly  of  North  Carolina  at  the  Special  Session,  1913,  having 
enacted  a  statute  entitled  "An  act  to  fix  and  provide  machinery  for  fixing  rates  to 
be  charged  by  railroads  for  transporting  freight  within  the  State  of  North  Caro- 
lina," and  having  provided  in  section  4a  for  the  creation  of  a  Special  Commission 
to  investigate  the  facts  and  make  report  of  their  findings  to  the  Governor,  and 
which  said  Special  Commission  has  been  duly  created,  according  to  law; 

And  further  provided  that  "Pending  investigation  and  report,  the  Governor  is 
hereby  authorized  to  suspend  the  operation  of  this  act  for  a  period  of  not  exceed- 
ing sixty  days  upon  the  recommendation  of  the  Special  Commission  herein  pro- 
vided for ; 

"And  upon  similar  recommendation,  made  in  order  to  allow  time  for  proper 
investigation,  make  additional  suspension  for  such  time  as  the  said  Special  Com- 
mission may  recommend  as  reasonable  and  necessary  for  the  completion  of  the 
investigation" ; 

And  the  operation  of  the  act  having  been  suspended  for  a  period  of  sixty  days 
as  provided  therein,  and  the  said  commission  having  filed  with  the  Governor  the 
following : 

January  23,  1914. 
His  Excellency  Locke  Craig,  Governor: 

The  Special  Commission  ordered  to  investigate  railroad  rates  has  heard 
testimony  for  the  past  ten  days,  and  in  that  time  the  railroads  have  put  in 
their  testimony  in  chief.  It  became  necessary  to  adjourn  the  Commission 
in  order  to  allow  the  Attorney-General  to  prepare  his  testimony  and  put  it  in. 
We  have  therefore  adjourned  until  Tuesday,  February  the  24th,  at  12 
o'clock. 

We  respectfully  request  your  Excellency  to  postpone  the  operation  of  the 
rates  fixed  in  House  Bill  452  until  March  20,  1914. 

Very  respectfully, 
(Signed)  M.  H.  Justice, 

Chairman. 

Now,  therefore,  I,  Locke  Craig,  Governor  of  the  State  of  North  Carolina,  in 
the  exercise  of  the  power  vested  in  me  by  the  Legislature,  do  hereby  suspend  the 
operation  of  the  said  act  until  March  20,  1914. 


106        LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

Done  at  our  city  of  Raleigh,  this  the  twenty-third  day  of  January,  in 
[great     the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  nine  hundred  and  fourteen,  and  in  the 
seal]     one  hundred  and  thirty-eighth  year  of  our  American  independence. 

Locke  Ceaig, 
By  the  Governor:  Governor. 

Jno.  P.  Kerr, 

Private  Secretary. 


(12) 

PROCLAMATION  BY  THE  GOVERNOR,  POSTPONING  OPERATION  OF 

ACT  OF  SPECIAL  SESSION  1913  IN  REGARD  TO  FREIGHT  RATES, 

PENDING  INVESTIGATION  OF  SPECIAL  FREIGHT  RATE 

COMMISSION.     MARCH  20,  1914 

To  Hon.  Locke  Craig,  Greensboro,  N.  C. 

Governor  of  North  Carolina, 
Raleigh,  N.  C. 
Dear  Governor  : — The  Commission  by  you  appointed  have  continued  the  hear- 
ing to  April  7,  1914,  and  request  that  the  act  fixing  intrastate  freight  rates  be 
further  suspended  for  sixty  days  from  the  expiration  of  the  time  of  the  last  sus- 
pension thereof,  in  order  to  complete  the  hearing.  -^   tt   tustice 

Chairman. 


State  of  North  Carolina 

Executive  Department 

Raleigh 

A  Proclamation  hy  the  Governor 

The  General  Assembly  of  North  Carolina  at  the  Special  Session,  1913,  having 
enacted  a  statute  entitled  "An  act  to  fix  and  provide  machinery  for  fixing  rates  to 
be  charged  by  railroads  for  transporting  freight  within  the  State  of  North  Caro- 
lina," and  having  provided  in  section  4a  for  the  creation  of  a  Special  Commission 
to  investigate  the  facts  and  make  report  of  their  findings  to  the  Governor,  and 
which  said  Special  Commission  has  been  duly  created  according  to  law; 

And  further  provided  that  "pending  investigation  and  report  the  Governor  is 
hereby  authorized  to  suspend  the  operation  of  this  act  for  a  period  of  not  exceeding 
sixty  days  upon  the  recommendation  of  the  Special  Commission  herein  provided 
for; 

"And  upon  similar  recommendation,  made  in  order  to  allow  time  for  proper 
investigation,  make  additional  suspension  for  such  time  as  the  said  Special  Com- 
mission may  recommend  as  reasonable  and  necessary  for  the  completion  of  the 
investigation" ; 


REDUCTION  OF  FREIGHT  RATES  107 

And  the  operation  of  the  act  having  been  suspended  for  a  period  of  sixty  days 
as  provided  therein,  and  pending  further  recommendation  of  the  said  Special  Com- 
mission having  been  suspended  according  to  the  provisions  of  that  act  until  March 
20,  1914; 

And  the  Special  Commission,  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  the  said  act 
of  the  General  Assembly  having  made  a  recommendation  that  the  said  act  be  sus- 
pended until  the  19th  day  of  May,  1914,  for  the  completion  of  the  investigation: 
Now,  therefore,  I,  Locke  Craig,  Governor  of  the  State  of  North  Carolina,  in  the 
exercise  of  the  power  vested  in  me  by  the  Legislature,  do  hereby  suspend  the  oper- 
ation of  the  said  act  until  May  19,  1914,  being  a  further  suspension  of  sixty  days 
in  accordance  with  the  recommendation  of  the  Special  Commission,  as  will  appear 
by  the  record. 

Done  at  our  city  of  Raleigh,  this  the  twentieth  day  of  March,  in  the 
[great     year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  nine  hundred  and  fourteen,  and  in  the  one 
seal]     hundred  and  thirty-eighth  year  of  our  American  independence. 

Locke  Craig, 
By  the  Governor:  Governor. 

Jno.  P.  Kerb, 

Private  Secretary. 


(13) 

PROCLAMATION  BY  THE  GOVERNOR,  POSTPONING  OPERATION  OF 

ACT  OF  SPECIAL  SESSION  1913  IN  REGARD  TO  FREIGHT  RATES, 

PENDING  INVESTIGATION  OF  SPECIAL  FREIGHT  RATE 

COMMISSION.     MAY  19,  1914 

His  Excellency,  Locke  Craig,  Ashevtlle,  N.  C,  May  1,  1914. 

Governor  of  North  Carolina, 
Raleigh,  N.  C. 
Dear  Sir: — The  Special  Commission  to  fix  freight  rates  continued  the  hearing 
to  July  7,  1914.    We  request  that  you  continue  the  suspension  of  the  operation  of 
the  act  of  the  Legislature  to  July  20,  1914.  M   H    T 

Chairman. 


State  of  Worth  Carolina 

Executive  Department 

Raleigh 

A  Proclamation  by  the  Governor 

The  General  Assembly  of  North  Carolina  at  the  Special  Session,  1913,  having 
enacted  a  statute  entitled  "An  act  to  fix  and  provide  machinery  for  fixing  rates  to 
be  charged  by  railroads  for  transporting  freight  within  the  State  of  North  Caro- 


108        LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

Una,"  and  having  provided  in  section  4a  for  the  creation  of  a  Special  Commission 
to  investigate  the  facts  and  make  report  of  their  findings  to  the  Governor,  and 
which  said  Special  Commission  has  been  duly  created  according  to  law; 

And  further  provided  that  "Pending  investigation  and  report,  the  Governor  is 
hereby  authorized  to  suspend  the  operation  of  this  act  for  a  period  of  not  exceed- 
ing sixty  days  upon  the  recommendation  of  the  Special  Commission  herein  pro- 
vided for ; 

"And  upon  similar  recommendation,  made  in  order  to  allow  time  for  proper 
investigation,  make  additional  suspension  for  such  time  as  the  said  Special  Com- 
mission may  recommend  as  reasonable  and  necessary  for  the  completion  of  the 
investigation" ; 

And  the  operation  of  the  act  having  been  suspended  as  provided  by  law  until 
the  19th  day  of  May,  1914 ; 

And  the  Special  Commission,  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  the  said  act 
of  the  General  Assembly,  having  made  a  recommendation  that  the  said  act  be  sus- 
pended until  the  18th  day  of  July,  1914,  for  the  completion  of  the  investigation: 

Now,  therefore,  I,  Locke  Craig,  Governor  of  the  State  of  North  Carolina,  in 
the  exercise  of  the  power  vested  in  me  by  the  Legislature,  do  hereby  suspend  the 
operation  of  the  said  act  until  July  18,  1914,  being  a  further  suspension  of  sixty 
days,  in  accordance  with  the  recommendation  of  the  Special  Commission,  as  will 
appear  by  the  record. 

Done  at  our  city  of  Raleigh,  this  the  nineteenth  day  of  May,  in  the 
[gbeat     year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  nine  hundred  and  fourteen,  and  in  the  one 
seal]     hundred  and  thirty-eighth  year  of  our  American  independence. 

Locke  Craig, 
By  the  Governor:  Governor. 

Jmo.  P.  Kerb, 

Private  Secretary. 


(14) 

PROCLAMATION  BY  THE  GOVERNOR,  POSTPONING  OPERATION  OF 

ACT  OF  SPECIAL  SESSION  OF  1913  IN  REGARD  TO  FREIGHT 

RATES,  PENDING  INVESTIGATION  OF  SPECIAL 

RATE  COMMISSION 

Asheville,  N.  C,  July  15,  1914. 
To  His  Excellency,  Locke  Craig,  Governor, 

Asheville,  N.  C. 
Dear  Sir: — As  chairman  of  the  Special  Freight  Rate  Commission,  and  by 
authority  of  said  Commission,  I  hereby  request  you  to  further  suspend  the  opera- 
tion of  an  act,  chapter  20,  Public  Laws  of  the  Extra  Session,  1913,  until  and  in- 
cluding August  10,  1914,  at  which  time  the  Commission  expect  to  be  able  to  furnish 
you  their  report.  Very  truly  yours, 

M.  H.  Justice, 

Chairman. 


REDUCTION  OF  FREIGHT  RATES  109 


State  of  North  Carolina 

Executive  Department 

Raleigh 

A  Proclamation  by  the  Governor 

The  General  Assembly  of  North  Carolina  at  the  Special  Session,  1913,  having 
enacted  a  statute  entitled  "An  act  to  fix  and  provide  machinery  for  fixing  rates  to 
he  charged  by  railroads  for  transporting  freight  within  the  State  of  North  Caro- 
lina," and  having  provided  in  section  4a  for  the  creation  of  a  Special  Commission 
to  investigate  the  facts  and  make  report  of  their  findings  to  the  Governor,  and 
which  said  Special  Commission  has  been  duly  created  according  to  law ; 

And  further  provided  that  "Pending  investigation  and  report,"  the  Governor  is 
hereby  authorized  to  suspend  the  operation  of  this  act  for  a  period  of  not  exceed- 
ing sixty  days  upon  the  recommendation  of  the  Special  Commission  herein  pro- 
vided for; 

"And  upon  similar  recommendation,  made  in  order  to  allow  time  for  proper 
investigation,  make  additional  suspension  for  such  time  as  the  said  Special  Com- 
mission may  recommend  as  reasonable  and  necessary  for  the  completion  of  the 
investigation" ; 

And  the  operation  of  the  act  having  been  suspended  as  provided  by  law  until 
the  18th  day  of  July,  1914; 

And  the  Special  Commission,  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  the  said  act 
of  the  General  Assembly,  having  made  a  recommendation  that  the  said  act  be  sus- 
pended until  the  10th  day  of  August,  1914,  for  the  completion  of  the  investigation: 

Now,  therefore,  I,  Locke  Craig,  Governor  of  the  State  of  North  Carolina,  in 
the  exercise  of  the  power  vested  in  me  by  the  Legislature,  do  hereby  suspend  the 
operation  of  the  said  act  until  August  10,  1914,  being  a  further  suspension  of 
twenty-three  days,  in  accordance  with  the  recommendation  of  the  Special  Commis- 
sion, as  will  appear  by  the  record. 

Done  at  our  city  of  Ealeigh,  this  the  fifteenth  day  of  July,  in  the 
[great     year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  nine  hundred  and  fourteen,  and  in  the  one 
seal]     hundred  and  thirty-ninth  year  of  our  American  independence. 

Locke  Craig, 
By  the  Governor:  Governor. 

Jno.  P.  Kerb, 

Private  Secretary. 


110        LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

(15) 

PROCLAMATION  BY  THE  GOVERNOR,  POSTPONING  OPERATION  OF 

ACT  OF  SPECIAL  SESSION  OF  1913  IN  REGARD  TO  FREIGHT 

RATES,  PENDING  INVESTIGATION  OF  SPECIAL 

RATE  COMMISSION 

Murphy,  1ST.  C,  August  10, 1914. 
How.  Locke  Craig,  Governor. 

Dear  Sir: — Please  extend  time  to  August  20,  1914,  for  putting  freight  rates 
into  operation  under  the  act  of  Special  Session  1913. 

Yours  truly,  M.  H.  Justice, 

Chairman. 


State  of  Worth  Carolina 

Executive  Department 

Raleigh 

A  Proclamation  by  the  Governor 

The  General  Assembly  of  North  Carolina  at  the  Special  Session,  1913,  having 
enacted  a  statute  entitled  "An  act  to  fix  and  provide  machinery  for  fixing  rates  to 
be  charged  by  railroads  for  transporting  freight  within  the  State  of  North  Caro- 
lina," and  having  provided  in  section  4a  for  the  creation  of  a  Special  Commission 
to  investigate  the  facts  and  make  report  of  their  findings  to  the  Governor,  and 
which  said  Special  Commission  has  been  duly  created  according  to  law; 

And  further  provided  that  "Pending  investigation  and  report,  the  Governor  is 
hereby  authorized  to  suspend  the  operation  of  this  act  for  a  period  of  not  exceed- 
ing sixty  days  upon  the  recommendation  of  the  Special  Commission  herein  pro- 
vided for; 

"And  upon  similar  recommendation  made  in  order  to  allow  time  for  proper 
investigation,  make  additional  suspension  for  such  time  as  the  said  Special  Com- 
mission may  recommend  as  reasonable  and  necessary  for  the  completion  of  the 
investigation" ; 

And  the  operation  of  the  act  having  been  suspended  as  provided  by  law  until 
the  10th  day  of  August,  1914; 

And  the  Special  Commission,  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  the  said  act 
of  the  General  Assembly,  having  made  a  recommendation  that  the  said  act  be  sus- 
pended until  the  20th  day  of  August,  1914,  for  the  completion  of  the  investigation: 

Now,  therefore,  I,  Locke  Craig,  Governor  of  the  State  of  North  Carolina,  in 
the  exercise  of  the  power  vested  in  me  by  the  Legislature,  do  hereby  suspend  the 
operation  of  the  said  act  until  August  20,  1914,  being  a  further  suspension  of  ten 
days,  in  accordance  with  the  recommendation  of  the  Special  Commission,  as  will 
appear  by  the  record. 

Done  at  our  city  of  Raleigh,  this  the  tenth  day  of  August,  in  the 
[great     year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  nine  hundred  and  fourteen,  and  in  the  one 
seal]     hundred  and  thirty-ninth  year  of  our  American  independence. 

Locke  Craig, 
By  the  Governor:  Governor. 

Jno.  P.  Kerr, 

Private  Secretary. 


REDUCTION  OF  FREIGHT  RATES  111 

(16) 

REPORT  OF  SPECIAL  FREIGHT  RATE  COMMISSION  TRANSMITTED 
TO  CORPORATION  COMMISSION 

State  of  Worth  Carolina 

Governor's  Office 

Raxeiqh 

Worth  Carolina  Corporation  Commission, 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 
Gentlemen: — I  hereby  deliver  to  you  and  file  with  you  the  report  of  the 
Special  Freight  Rate  Commission,  which  report  was  made  in  accordance  with 
chapter  20  of  the  Public  Laws  of  the  Extra  Session  of  1913.  I  attach  hereto  the 
said  report,  together  with  the  schedule  of  rates,  and  my  proclamation  promul- 
gating the  same.  Yours  truly,  LocKE  Qraig, 

Governor. 


(17) 

REPORT  OF  SPECIAL  RATE  COMMISSION.     AUGUST  13,  1914 

To  His  Excellency,  Governor  Locke  Craig, 

Raleigh,  North  Carolina. 

Sir: — The  Commission  appointed  by  your  Excellency  under  the  terms  of  the 
act  of  the  General  Assembly  of  1913,  entitled  "An  act  to  fix  and  provide  machin- 
ery for  fixing  rates  to  be  charged  by  railroads  transporting  freight  within  the 
State  of  Worth  Carolina,"  and  ratified  October  13,  1913,  has  the  honor  to  present 
the  following  report : 

The  first  hearing  of  the  Commission  was  held  in  Raleigh,  January  12th,  and 
extended  to  January  22d.  The  second  hearing,  likewise  held  in  Raleigh,  covered 
the  period  from  April  7th  to  April  14th.  The  third  and  last  hearing  was  held  in 
Asheville  from  July  7th  to  July  16th.  The  executive  sessions  of  the  Commission 
were  begun  on  July  20th.  At  the  first  hearing  the  Commission  announced  that  its 
policy  would  be  to  welcome  light  from  any  quarter.  Accordingly,  testimony  in 
great  detail  by  the  principal  public  carriers,  by  boards  of  trade,  by  various  indus- 
trial associations,  and  by  individuals,  has  been  presented  and  freely  admitted  to 
the  record. 

In  performing  the  duties  assigned  to  it  the  Commission  has  followed  the  gen- 
eral principles  of  the  act  which  authorized  its  appointment.  The  principle  of  a 
percentage  relationship  of  the  classes  recognized  in  the  act  is  indorsed  by  the  Com- 
mission, and,  as  far  as  is  now  practical,  it  has  been  employed  in  the  schedule  of 
rates  here  announced. 

The  Commission  has  not  undertaken  to  fix  local  or  joint-haul  rates  on  railroads 
less  than  seventy-five  miles  in  length,  because  section  6  of  the  act  indicates  that 
the  General  Assembly  intended  to  refer  these  rates  to  a  permanent  commission. 
Accordingly,  the  rates  here  reported  apply  to  all  railroad  companies  which  own, 
operate,  control,  or  maintain  seventy-five  or  more  miles  of  railroad  within  Worth 


112        LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

Carolina.  The  shorter  lines  are  so  numerous  and  their  freight  rates  so  divergent 
that  this  Commission  respectfully  refers  the  fixing  of  the  rates  on  these  roads  to 
the  North  Carolina  Corporation  Commission,  to  which  under  the  act  they  may  at 
any  time  appeal;  and  it  is  recommended  that  the  Corporation  Commission  fix  for 
these  shorter  roads  as  near  as  may  be  uniform  rates  on  a  fair  relation  with  those 
here  fixed  for  the  longer  roads ;  that  the  local  and  joint-haul  rates  now  in  force  on 
these  short  roads  be  maintained  until  the  Corporation  Commission  shall  have 
opportunity  to  fix  and  readjust  them;  and  that  the  Corporation  Commission  deal 
with  this  matter  at  the  earliest  possible  date. 

This  Commission  adopts  the  Southern  Classification,  and  the  rates  here  fixed 
and  reported  are  subject  to  that  classification,  except  where  lower  ratings  are  or 
may  be  published  by  the  North  Carolina  Corporation  Commission,  in  which  case 
the  lower  ratings  shall  prevail. 

The  rates  in  the  attached  schedule  are  declared  to  be  reasonable  maximum 
rates;  any  rates  which  are  now  lower  are  continued  in  effect,  except  that,  in  such 
isolated  cases  as  may  occur,  where  an  advance  of  not  more  than  one  cent  in  a 
particular  class  will  bring  the  existing  lower  rate  up  to  the  rate  here  prescribed, 
such  advance  is  allowed  in  the  interest  of  uniformity. 

Existing  rates  on  commodities  not  mentioned  in  the  attached  schedule  are  con- 
tinued in  effect. 

When  rates  are  not  shown  for  the  exact  distance,  the  charge  shall  be  the  rate 
prescribed  for  the  nearest  distance.  In  cases  where  the  haul  is  equidistant  from 
specified  rate  distances,  the  charge  shall  be  that  for  the  next  higher  distance. 

In  case  one  railroad  company  has  two  or  more  routes  between  given  points, 
rates  shall  be  based  on  the  shortest  route.  On  joint  hauls  the  lines  handling  the 
traffic  shall  base  their  rates  upon  the  shortest  practicable  route  having  physical 
connection. 

For  joint  hauls  over  two  or  more  independently  controlled  railroads  under  the 
management  of  companies  operating  seventy-five  or  more  miles  of  railroad  within 
this  State,  add  the  following  to  the  straight  mileage  rates  for  the  total  combined 
distance:  .    ,,.„      , 

Per  100  Pounds 

Class— 123456ABCD  Other  Classes  and  Commodities. 

5433222222  lc. 

In  the  absence  of  an  agreed  basis  of  division  between  roads  participating  in  a 
joint  haul,  locals  shall  be  used  as  factors  in  dividing,  after  first  deducting  cost  of 
transfer,  if  any,  at  interchange  point. 

The  minimum  charge  on  small  shipments  shall  be  for  actual  weight   at  the 
tariff  rate,  but  not  less  than  25  cents  for  a  haul  over  one  road,  or  30  cents  for  a 
joint  haul  over  two  roads,  or  40  cents  for  joint  haul  over  three  or  more  roads. 
Class  E  articles  are  here  rated  fifth  class. 
Class  H  articles  are  here  rated  fourth  class. 

Flour  in  barrels,  heretofore  rated  Class  F,  is  here  rated  double  Class  C  per 
barrel;  flour  in  half  barrels,  same  as  Class  C. 

Class  M  articles  are  here  rated  two-thirds  of  Class  A. 

All  which,  together  with  the  attached  schedule  of  rates,  is  submitted  to  your 
Excellency  with  the  greatest  deference  and  respect. 

(Signed)     M.  H.  Justice,  Chairman, 
Alf.  A.  Thompson, 
W.  L.  Poteat, 

Commissioners. 


■REDUCTION  OF  FREIGHT  RATES  113 

GENERAL,  RULES 

1.  These  rates  are  subject  to  Southern  Classification,  except  where  lower  ratings  are 
or  may  be  published  by  the  North  Carolina  Corporation  Commission. 

2.  When  rates  are  not  shown  for  the  exact  distance,  the  charge  shall  not  exceed  the 
rate  for  the  nearest  distance.  In  cases  where  the  haul  is  equidistant  the  charge  shall  be 
that  for  the  next  higher  distance. 

3.  Where  one  railroad  company  has  two  or  more  routes  between  given  points,  the 
rates  shall  be  based  on  the  shortest  route.  On  joint  hauls,  the  lines  handling  the  traffic 
must  base  their  rates  upon  the  shortest  practicable  route  having  physical  connection. 

4.  For  joint  hauls  over  two  or  more  independently  controlled  railroads  under  the 
management  of  companies  operating  seventy-five  or  more  miles  of  railroads  within  this 
State,  add  the  following  to  the  straight  mileage  rates  for  the  combined  total  distance.: 

Per  100  Pounds 

Class 123456       A       BCD  Other  Classes  and  Commodities. 

5433222222  lc. 

In  the  absence  of  an  agreed  basis  of  division  between  roads  participating  in  a  joint 
haul,  locals  shall  be  used  as  factors  in  dividing,  after  first  deducting  cost  of  transfer,  if 
any,  at  interchange  point. 

5.  The  minimum  charge  on  small  shipments  shall  be  for  actual  weight  at  the  tariff 
rate,  but  not  less  than  25  cents  for  a  haul  over  one  road,  or  30  cents  for  a  joint  haul  over 
two  roads,  or  40  cents  for  joint  haul  over  three  or  more  roads. 

Existing  rates  on  commodities  not  mentioned  in  this  schedule  are  continued  in  effect. 

Class  E  articles  are  here  rated  fifth  class;  Class  H  articles  are  here  rated  fourth 
class. 

Flour  in  barrels,  now  rated  Class  F,  is  here  rated  double  Class  C  per  barrel;  flour  in 
half  barrels,  same  as  Class  C. 

Class  M  articles  are  here  rated  two-thirds  of  Class  A. 


114:        LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 


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REDUCTION  OF  FREIGHT  RATES 


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116        LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

(18) 

PROCLAMATION  BY  THE  GOVERNOR,  DECLARING  FREIGHT  RATE 
SCHEDULE.     AUGUST  13,  1914 

State  of  North  Carolina 

Executive  Department 

Raleigh 

A  Proclamation  by  the  Governor 

Whereas  the  Extra  Session  of  the  General  Assembly  of  1913  did  enact  a  statute 
"To  fix  and  provide  machinery  for  fixing  rates  to  be  charged  by  railroads  for 
transporting  freight  within  the  State  of  North  Carolina,"  which  statute  is  chapter 
20  of  the  Public  Laws  of  the  Extra  Session  of  1913 ;  and 

Whereas  section  4a  of  said  statute  provides:  "Should  any  one  or  more  of  the 
common  carriers  affected  by  the  rates  prescribed  in  this  act  make  representation 
to  the  Governor  of  the  State  that  the  rates  herein  provided  are  or  would  be  confis- 
catory or  unreasonable,  and  the  Governor  should  be  of  opinion  that  such  complaint 
is  in  good  faith,  and  that  there  is  good  and  sufficient  reason  for  investigating  the 
facts,  then  the  Governor  shall  be  and  he  is  hereby  empowered  to  appoint  a  Special 
Commission  of  not  more  than  three  persons  to  immediately  investigate  the  facts, 
and  make  report  of  their  findings  to  him.  Pending  such  investigation  and  report, 
the  Governor  is  hereby  authorized  to  suspend  the  operation  of  this  act  for  a  period 
of  not  exceeding  sixty  days  upon  the  recommendation  of  the  Special  Commission 
herein  provided  for;  and  upon  similar  recommendation  made,  in  order  to  allow 
time  for  proper  investigation,  to  make  additional  suspension  for  such  time  as  the 
said  Special  Commission  may  recommend  as  reasonable  and  necessary  for  the  com- 
pletion of  the  investigation" ;  and 

Whereas  the  common  carriers  affected  by  the  rates  prescribed  in  the  act  did 
make  representations  to  the  Governor  of  the  State  that  the  rates  provided  in  the 
act  are  and  would  be  confiscatory  and  unreasonable,  and  the  Governor  was  of 
opinion  that  such  complaint  was  in  good  faith,  and  that  there  was  good  and  suffi- 
cient reason  for  investigating  the  facts ;  and 

Whereas,  in  the  exercise  of  the  power  conferred  by  the  statute,  the  Governor 
did  appoint  a  Special  Commission  of  three  persons,  to  wit,  Michael  Hoke  Justice, 
William  Louis  Poteat,  and  Alfred  A.  Thompson,  to  immediately  investigate  the 
facts  and  make  report  of  their  findings  to  him ;  and  did  from  time  to  time  suspend 
the  operation  of  the  said  statute  to  allow  time  for  proper  investigation;  and 

Whereas  the  said  Special  Commission,  as  directed  and  empowered  by  the  said 
statute,  has  made  report  to  the  Governor  of  their  findings,  and  has  fixed  the  rates 
to  be  charged  by  railroads  for  the  transportation  of  freight  within  the  State  of 
North  Carolina,  which  said  report  and  schedule  of  rates  is  hereto  attached,  and 
made  part  of  this  proclamation : 

Now,  therefore,  I,  Locke  Craig,  Governor  of  North  Carolina,  do  hereby  pro- 
claim that  the  rates  so  fixed  by  the  said  Special  Commission  are  the  maximum 
rates  to  be  charged  by  the  railroads  for  the  transportation  of  freight  within  the 
State  of  North  Carolina,  whenever  the  said  statute  shall  become  operative  by  the 
terms  thereof;  and  in  accordance  with  the  power  conferred  upon  me  by  the  said 


REDUCTION  OF  FREIGHT  RATES  117 

statute,  I  do  hereby  promulgate  the  said  report  and  the  said  rates  fixed  therein, 
and  do  hereby  file  the  same  with  the  Corporation  Commission  of  the  State  of 
North  Carolina,  to  become  effective  and  operative  from  and  after  sixty  days  from 
this  date,  as  provided  by  the  said  statute. 

Done  at  our  city  of  Raleigh,  this  the  thirteenth  day  of  August,  in  the 
[great     year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  nine  hundred  and  fourteen,  and  in  the  one 
seal]     hundred  and  thirty-ninth  year  of  our  American  independence. 

Locke  Craig, 
By  the  Governor:  Governor. 

Jno.  P.  Kerr, 

Private  Secretary. 

(19) 

CERTIFICATE  SPECIAL  FREIGHT  RATE  COMMISSION  IN  REGARD 
TO  LUMBER  SCHEDULE 

His  Excellency,  Locke  Craig,  September  11,  1914. 

Governor  of  North  Carolina. 
Dear  Sir  : — We  hereby  certify  that  the  Freight  Rate  Commission  in  consider- 
ing the  lumber  schedules  settled  upon  24,000  pounds  as  the  minimum  weight  on  a 
car  of  lumber,  but  it  seems  that  by  some  mistake  30,000  pounds  was  written  in  our 
report  to  you  heretofore  made.  Therefore  we  ask  that  you  certify  the  correct 
minimum  weight,  to  wit,  24,000  pounds,  to  the  Corporation  Commission,  to  the  end 
that  it  may  amend  the  record  accordingly. 

Very  truly  yours, 

M.  H.  Justice,  Chairman, 
Alf.  A.  Thompson, 
W.  L.  Poteat, 

Members  of  Commission. 

(20) 

LETTER  OF  A.  A.  THOMPSON  TO  ASSISTANT  ATTORNEY-GENERAL, 

ATTACHED  TO  CERTIFICATE  OF  SPECIAL  FREIGHT 

RATE  COMMISSION 

Mr.  T.  H.  Calvert,  Raleigh,  1ST.  O,  September  21,  1914. 

Assistant  Attorney-General, 
Raleigh,  N.  C. 

Dear  Sir  : — Replying  to  your  letter  of  September  19th. 

I  sign  and  return  the  inclosure. 

Let  me  suggest,  however,  that  you  confer  with  the  Corporation  Commission 
before  undertaking  to  correct  the  error.  I  do  not  think  any  great  hardship  will 
result,  even  if  the  correction  is  not  made.  The  rates  probably  have  been  sent  to 
the  railroads,  and  great  confusion  might  result  in  trying  to  correct  the  error 
referred  to.  Very  truly  yours,  ^^  A_  ThompsoN- 


118        LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

(21) 
SOUTHERN  RAILWAY  COMPANY,  BY  ALFRED  P.  THOM,  TRANSMIT- 
TING PAPER  SIGNED  BY  COMMON  CARRIERS  RELATING  TO 
RATES  IN  EFFECT  ACCORDING  TO  PROCLAMA- 
TION BY  THE  GOVERNOR 

Southern  Railway  Company 

Hon.  Locke  Craig,  Washington,  D.  C,  October  6,  1914. 

Governor  of  North  Carolina, 
Raleigh,  N.  C. 
My  dear  Governor: — At  the  request  of  the  various  railroad  companies  doing 
business  as  common  carriers  in  the  State  of  North  Carolina,  I  beg  to  hand  you 
herewith  a  paper  signed  by  them  relating  to  the  intrastate  rates  which,  according 
to  the  proclamation  of  your  Excellency,  are  to  be  put  into  effect  on  the  13th  instant. 
With  kind  regards  and  best  wishes,  I  am,  Sincerely  yours, 

Alfred  P.  Thom. 
Hon.  Locke  Craig,  Governor  of  North  Carolina: 

Sik: — The  undersigned  railroad  companies  doing  business  as  common 
carriers  in  the  State  of  North  Carolina,  have  had  their  attention  called  to  the 
proclamation  of  your  Excellency,  dated  August  13,  1914,  in  which  you  pro- 
mulgate the  intrastate  freight  rates  fixed  by  the  Honorable  Special  Com- 
mission appointed  by  your  Excellency  under  an  act  of  the  General  Assembly 
of  North  Carolina  entitled  "An  act  to  fix  and  to  provide  machinery  for  fix- 
ing rates  to  be  charged  by  railroads  for  transporting  freight  within  the 
State  of  North  Carolina,"  ratified  the  13th  day  of  October,  1913. 

We  respectfully  notify  your  Excellency  that  these  rates  will  be  put  into 
effect  by  us  on  the  day  on  which,  by  the  terms  of  your  proclamation,  they 
become  effective. 

In  doing  this  we  desire  to  express  our  appreciation  of  the  painstaking 
care  which  the  Special  Commission  exhibited  in  the  performance  of  its  diffi- 
cult task  and  of  the  uniform  courtesy  and  consideration  with  which,  in  the 
course  of  its  investigation,  it  treated  all  parties  before  it. 

While  we  consider  it  proper,  under  the  circumstances,  to  put  these  rates 
into  effect  without  legal  controversy,  we  deem  it  our  duty,  not  only  to  the 
owners  of  the  properties  but  to  the  public  vitally  dependent  upon  these 
properties  for  efficient  service,  to  call  your  Excellency's  attention  to  our 
belief  that  the  rates  mentioned  are  lower  than  are  reasonable  for  the  service 
to  be  rendered,  and  to  the  fact  that  they  involve  substantial  reductions 
in  the  revenues  of  these  carriers  which  they  are  in  no  position  to  stand,  and 
it  is  claimed  by  many  and  there  is  danger  to  apprehend  that  they  create 
serious  and  unjustified  discriminations  against  interstate  traffic,  which  is 
subject  to  rates  in  and  of  themselves  certainly  no  higher  than  is  reasonable 
and   just. 

Your  Excellency  is  aware  that  the  "Act  to  regulate  commerce,"  enacted 
by  Congress,  makes  it  unlawful  for  any  common  carrier  subject  to  that  act, 
as  all  the  undersigned  carriers  are,  to  make  any  undue  discrimination  against 
any  locality  or  description  of  traffic,  that  penalties  are  provided  for  dis- 
obedience to  this  requirement  of  law,  and  that  an  order  of  a  State  commis- 
sion or  the  mandate  of  a  State  statute  will  not  be  accepted  as  an  excuse. 

Under  these  circumstances,  these  carriers,  for  their  own  protection  against 
violations  of  law,  are  advised  that  it  is  incumbent  upon  them  to  lay  the  facts 


REDUCTION  OF  FREIGHT  RATES  119 

relating  to  such  apparent  discrimination  before  the  Interstate  Commerce 
Commission  for  such  action  as  that  Commission  will  consider  it  proper  under 
the  law  to  take. 

These  carriers  further  desire  to  emphasize  the  fact,  above  mentioned, 
that  they  are  in  no  position  to  stand  the  reductions  in  their  revenues  caused 
by  the  rates  fixed  by  the  Special  Commission.  This  consideration  has  become 
even  more  substantial  and  serious  since  the  hearings  before  the  Commission 
were  closed.  Since  that  time  a  war  of  unparalleled  magnitude  has  broken 
out  in  Europe  which  has  seriously  affected  the  business  of  America,  and 
especially  of  the  South.  While  the  unfortunate  consequences  have  come 
upon  all  departments  of  business,  the  transportation  industry  is  as  essen- 
tial to  the  general  welfare  as  is  government  itself,  and  must  in  the  public 
interest  be  sustained.  The  public  welfare  will  not  permit  the  revenues  of 
the  carriers  to  be  reduced  below  the  level  of  efficiency.  In  sustaining  the 
efficiency  of  the  carriers  the  business  public  is  sustaining  itself  and  is  creat- 
ing an  essential  condition  precedent  to  its  own  prosperity. 

In  addition  to  this  controlling  consideration,  it  has  likewise  transpired, 
since  the  close  of  the  hearings,  that  a  most  serious  reduction  in  the  revenues 
of  these  carriers,  in  addition  to  that  which  a  reduction  of  these  rates  will 
involve,  has  actually  taken  place. 

"While,  therefore,  in  deference  to  the  sentiment  and  to  the  authority  of 
North  Carolina,  these  carriers  have  determined  to  put  into  effect  the  rates 
fixed  by  the  Honorable  Special  Commission  and  promulgated  by  your  Excel- 
lency, we  do  so  under  respectful  protest,  and  shall  ask  of  your  Excellency 
and  of  the  other  appropriate  authorities  of  the  State  such  relief  as  may  be 
just  and  reasonable  under  the  circumstances. 

Atlantic  Coast  Line  Railroad  Company, 

By  J.  R.  Kenly,  President. 
Carolina,  Clinchfield  and  Ohio  Railway  Company, 

By  Mack  N.   Patten,  President. 
Carolina  and  Northwestern  Railway, 

By  W.  A.  Barber,  President. 
Norfolk  Southern  Railroad  Company, 

By  J.  H.  Young,  President. 
Norfolk  and  Western  Railway  Company, 

By  L.  E.   Johnson,  President. 
Seaboard  Air  Line  Railway, 

By  W.  J.  Habahan,  President. 
Southern  Railway  Company, 

By  Fairfax  Harrison,  President. 
Winston-Salem  Southbound  Railway  Company, 

By  H.  E.  Fries,  President. 
Washington,  D.  C,  October  3,  1914. 


State  of  North  Carolina 
Governor's  Office 
Kaleigh 
Col.  Alfred  P.  Thom,  October  8,  1914. 

1S00  Pennsylvania  Avenue, 

Washington,  D.  C. 
Mt  dear  Colonel  Thom  : — Your  letter  of  October  6th,  with  the  communica- 
tion of  the  several  railroads  interested,  has  been  received.     I  am  very  much  grati- 
fied to  know  that  the  railroads  have  accepted  the  schedule  of  rates  which  was  fixed 


120    LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

by  the  Special  Commission.  I  hope  that  these  rates  when  put  into  effect  will  be 
found  remunerative  and  satisfactory  to  the  carriers.  I  hope  that  I  shall  be  at  all 
times  ready  to  cooperate  in  a  spirit  of  justice  with  the  railroads  for  their  own 
prosperity  and  for  the  building  up  of  the  State.  In  this  I  feel  sure  that  the  people 
of  North  Carolina  will  concur. 

I  wish  to  express  my  thanks  to  you,  and  to  the  other  representatives  of  the 
carriers,  for  the  uniform  courtesy  with  which  you  have  dealt  with  the  representa- 
tives of  the  State,  and  for  the  spirit  of  fairness  manifested  by  you  in  dealing  with 
this  important  and  difficult  subject. 

With  the  highest  regards,  Yours  sincerely, 

Locke  Ceaig, 

Governor. 


(22) 

STATEMENT  OF  THE  GOVERNOR  TO  THE  PRESS.    JANUARY  1,  1916 

Governor  Craig  stated  this  morning  that  he  was  surprised  to  see  a  statement 
in  the  newspapers,  coming  from  Washington,  that  certain  freight  rates  for  Worth 
Carolina  and  other  Southern  States  are  to  be  increased  on  January  1st.  "From 
the  statement,"  he  said,  "this  increase  may  be  no  insignificant  matter." 

"Recently,"  continued  he,  "I  have  seen  several  short  notices  in  the  newspapers 
that  there  was  some  proceeding  on  foot  to  change  freight  rates  in  the  South  Atlan- 
tic States.  These  notices  that  I  have  seen  have  been  vague,  and  did  not  make 
upon  me  the  impression  that  any  change  was  about  to  be  made  by  which  the  people 
of  this  State  would  be  seriously  affected.  I  have  had  no  notice  whatever  of  any 
such  proceeding,  except  what  I  have  picked  up  in  the  newspapers.  If  any  explicit 
statement  has  appeared  in  any  of  the  papers  to  the  effect  that  freight  rates  would 
be  substantially  changed,  it  has  escaped  me.  I  have  instituted  an  inquiry  to 
inform  myself  fully  on  this  subject.  As  soon  as  I  get  the  facts,  the  public  shall 
know  them." 


(23) 

STATEMENT  OF  THE  GOVERNOR  TO  THE  PRESS.     JANUARY  1,  1916 

Governor  Craig  said: 

"Since  making  the  above  statement  I  have  received  from  Mr.   Maxwell,  the 
clerk  of  the  Corporation  Commission,  the  following  letter: 

State  op  North  Carolina 

Corporation  Commission 

Raleigh 

January  1,  1916. 
Hon.  Locke  Craig,  Governor,  Raleigh,  N.  O.l 

Sir: — Knowing  your  great  interest  in  the  matter  of  a  fair  and  equitable 
adjustment  of  freight  rates  into  and  out  of  this  State,  it  is  thought  proper 
to  bring  to  your  attention  the  new  schedule  of  rates  from  practically  all 
points  of  origin  in  this  State  to  all  points  in  Southeastern  territory  (includ- 


REDUCTION  OF  FREIGHT  RATES  121 

ing  Mississippi  Valley  territory)  which  became  effective  today  by  order  of  the 
Interstate  Commerce  Commission  made  on  yesterday. 

This  new  schedule  of  rates  was  worked  out  by  the  Southeastern  railway 
lines  under  order  of  the  Interstate  Commerce  Commission  of  April  13,  1914, 
and  covers  a  complete  revision  of  all  class  rates  from  the  north,  east,  and 
west  to  the  Southeastern  territory.  It  required  more  than  eighteen  months 
time  for  their  compilation  by  a  large  corps  of  rate  experts,  and  they  were 
filed  about  December  1st,  to  become  effective  January  1st.  A  copy  of  the 
tariff  did  not  reach  the  Corporation  Commission  till  about  December  10th, 
and  obviously  there  was  not  sufficient  time  to  analyze  the  new  tariffs  and 
present  adequately  to  the  Interstate  Commerce  Commission,  and  get  consid- 
eration of,  such  objections  as  could  properly  be  presented  in  behalf  of  the 
interests  of  the  North  Carolina  shippers;  so  the  Corporation  Commission 
filed  a  general  protest  against  the  proposed  rates,  and  asked  that  the  effective 
date  of  the  new  tariffs  be  postponed  until  there  could  be  an  adequate  investi- 
gation of  the  new  rates,  and  the  railroads  required  to  justify  the  substantial 
advances  proposed.  Protests  were  made  by  many  industrial  centers  in  other 
States,  but  as  indicated  by  the  press  reports  this  morning  from  Washington, 
the  Commission  has  declined  to  suspend  the  new  tariffs,  and  its  order  makes 
the  following  statement: 

"The    fact    that    the   Commission    has    not    suspended    the   new 
schedule  carries  with  it  no  approval,  and  this  action  is  subject  to 
the  duty  of  the  Commission  to  investigate  the  lawfulness  and  reason- 
ableness of  any  schedule  which  may  be  made  the  subject  of  formal 
complaint." 
The  new  schedule  of  rates  are  made  ostensibly  to  conform  to  rules  laid 
down  by  the  Interstate  Commerce  Commission  with  respect  to  long  and  short 
haul  observance,  but  in  the  opinion  of  many  rate  experts  they  have  in  doing 
so  made  provision  for  a  substantial  increase  in  revenue. 

In  so  far  as  there  is  a  key  to  the  rate  structure  in  the  Southeast,  it  may 
be  said  that  the  rates  to  the  Southeastern  gateways,  like  Atlanta,  Bir- 
mingham, and  Chattanooga,  are  the  keys.  Rates  to  these  points  have  hereto- 
fore been  substantially  less  than  to  contiguous  and  intermediate  points. 
In  the  new  rate  structure  this  is  changed  in  every  instance  by  a  substantial 
raise  in  the  rates  to  the  gateway  points  and  in  some  cases  by  a  reduction  in 
rates  to  intermediate  local  stations.  The  rate  from  Virginia  cities  to  Atlanta 
is  increased  from  84  cents  to  $1;  to  Birmingham  from  87  cents  to  ?1.07;  to 
Chattanooga  from  84  cents  to  $1.07.  These  increases  in  rates  apply  generally 
from  North  Carolina  points  of  origin,  and  it  may  be  said  that  like  increases 
apply  generally  from  all  points  north,  east,  and  west  with  which  our  pro- 
ducers compete,  though  in  some  cases  increases  from  western  points  are  not 
as  great. 

So  far  as  the  measure  o\f  the  rates  as  a  whole  is  concerned,  it  may  be 
said  that  our  interest  is  common  with  that  of  competitors  in  the  north,  east, 
and  west;  but  the  feature  of  it  that  has  most  interested  the  Commission  is 
the  hope  that  in  this  general  rearrangement  of  rates,  and  particularly  inas- 
much as  it  is  apparent  that  a  general  average  increase  in  the  measure  of 
■the  rates  is  being  made,  there  may  be  a  proper  adjustment  of  our  rates 
with  relation  to  the  rates  from  the  Virginia  cities.  Our  rate  basis  out- 
bound to  the  Southeast  has  heretofore  been  the  same  as  the  rates  from  the 
Virginia  cities,  an  average  of  189  miles  greater  distance.  This  principle 
is  recognized  in  the  new  adjustment,  but  only  to  the  extent  of  a  differential 
of  seven  cents  first  class  under  the  rate  from  Virginia  cities,  and  only  to  a 
limited  territory,  which  includes  Atlanta.  This  differential  is  not  nearly 
as  great  as  the  actual  cost  of  the  transportation  for  the  greater  distance 


122    LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

from  the  Virginia  cities  would  justify,  and  a  proper  differential  should 
apply  to  all  interior  points  in  the  Southeastern  territory.  Our  manufac- 
turers and  producers  are  subjected  to  a  high  rate  over  the  Virginia  cities 
on  all  freight  inbound  from  the  north  and  west,  and  should  at  least  have 
the  benefit  of  such  difference  under  the  Virginia  cities  as  the  shorter  dis- 
tance would  reasonably  give  them  in  rates  outbound  to  the  south. 

The  bulk  of  the  traffic  that  has  heretofore  moved  from  North  Carolina 
outbound  to  the  southeast  has  moved  under  commodity  tariffs  which  are  not 
repealed  by  the  new  class  tariffs.  This  statement  applies  to  furniture,  cotton 
goods,  bagging,  tobacco,  etc.  It  is  noted,  however,  that  the  order  of  the 
Interstate  Commerce  Commission  on  yesterday  requires  the  railroads  to 
revise  these  commodity  tariffs  within  ninety  days,  so  that  an  increase  in 
these  rates  in  line  with  the  increased  class  rates  may  be  anticipated. 

None  of  the  increases  apply  to  rates  inbound  from  the  West  which  were 
the  subject  of  compromise  effective  June  20,  1914. 

Very  respectfully, 

A.  J.  Maxwell, 

Clerk. 
Continuing,  the  Governor  said : 

"It  seems  to  me  that  there  is  no  good  reason  for  an  increase  of  freight  rates 
at  this  time  in  the  South.  There  is  unprecedented  industrial  activity  and  develop- 
ment. The  depression  that  prevailed  in  the  summer  and  fall  of  1914  has  been 
succeeded  by  increasing  prosperity  in  nearly  all  departments  of  business.  The  rail- 
roads participate  in  the  general  improvement.  The  report  of  Mr.  Fairfax  Harri- 
son, president  of  the  Southern  Railway  Company,  to  the  stockholders  for  the  year 
ending  June  30,  1915,  shows  that  his  company  is  in  a  good,  healthy  condition.  By 
able  management  under  existing  rates  it  triumphed  over  adversity  and  'vicissitudes 
of  this  year  of  need'  and  'fought  a  losing  fight  and  won.'  jSTot  all  enterprises  have 
been  so  fortunate. 

"The  affairs  of  the  Seaboard  Air  Line  have  been  managed  with  such  skill,  and 
its  condition  is  so  good  that  it  voluntarily  abandoned  its  suit  against  the  Corpora- 
tion Commission  for  the  reduction  of  the  appraisement  for  taxation  made  by  the 
Commission.  It  could  not  make  a  showing  that  would  give  it  a  standing  in  a  court 
of  equity.  At  least,  it  did  not  make  the  showing.  And  it  did  not  desire  to  disturb 
an  amicable  relation. 

"I  assume  that  the  other  transportation  lines  in  the  South  are  in  a  condition 
that  is  about  as  satisfactory. 

"Besides,  in  this  rate  schedule  promulgated  by  the  Interstate  Commerce  Com- 
mission there  is  an  inequity  that  in  my  opinion  is  indefensible.  All  freight  orig- 
inating in  North  Carolina  and  going  south,  except  to  a  'limited  territory  which 
includes  Atlanta,'  is  to  bear  the  same  tariff  as  the  same  class  of  freight  originating 
in  the  Virginia  cities,  although  these  Virginia  cities  are  on  an  average  189  miles 
farther  from  these  southern  markets  than  the  North  Carolina  points.  And  on 
freight  going  to  'this  limited  territory,'  including  Atlanta,  we  get  a  rate  only  7 
cents  lower  on  first-class  freight  than  the  Virginia  cities.  To  illustrate:  the  rate 
on  furniture  from  Lynchburg,  Richmond,  and  Roanoke  to  Atlanta  under  the  new 
schedule  is  $1  per  hundred  pounds;  from  High  Point  to  Atlanta  it  is  93  cents  a 
hundred  pounds.  From  High  Point  and  other  North  Carolina  towns  to  all  other 
southern  points,  the  rate  is  $1  per  hundred  pounds,  the  same  as  from  Virginia 
cities.     This  is  a  decided  increase  over  the  rates  heretofore  existing. 

"A  little  more  than  two  years  ago  we  came  to  an  agreement  with  the  railroads 
as  to  rates  from  the  North  and  Northwest  on  freight  brought  into  this   State. 


REDUCTION  OF  FREIGHT  RATES  123 

These  rates  agreed  upon  are  higher  than  the  rates  charged  Virginia  cities,  although 
the  freight  is  hauled  through  North  Carolina  towns  to  these  cities  in  Virginia. 
In  consideration  of  all  the  circumstances  and  difficulties,  this  matter  was  adjusted. 
While  North  Carolina  did  not  get  all  to  which  she  was  entitled,  we  accepted  the 
situation.  Now  it  seems  we  are  to  he  charged  on  freight  going  south  the  same  as 
the  Virginia  cities  are  charged,  although  the  freight  is  hauled  from  Virginia 
through  North  Carolina  to  these  southern  points.  On  such  tariffs  North  Carolina 
would  'get  it  in  the  neck'  both  going  and  coming. 

"This  schedule  that  goes  into  effect  today  is  not  a  final  adjudication,  and  it 
should  never  be. 

"The  commodity  rates  on  freight  going  south,  it  seems,  have  not  yet  been 
changed,  and  will  not  be  for  ninety  days. 

"One  of  the  most  desirable  considerations  of  the  settlement  of  the  freight  rate 
question  two  years  ago  was  the  establishment  of  good  feeling  between  the  railroads 
and  the  people  of  the  State.  I  would  deeply  regret  that  this  good  feeling  and 
mutual  desire  for  each  others'  welfare,  and  willingness  to  cooperate  with  each 
other,  should  be  disturbed.  I  cannot  believe  that  the  men  who  are  now  managing 
the  carriers  that  operate  in  this  State,  who  have  heretofore  manifested  an  earnest 
desire  for  an  equitable  adjustment  of  all  differences,  will  contend  that  freight 
originating  in  North  Carolina  going  south  shall  bear  the  same  tariff  as  similar 
freight  originating  in  Virginia — nearly  two  hundred  miles  farther  from  destina- 
tion." 


(24) 

LETTER  AND   STATEMENT  OF  PRESIDENT  FAIRFAX  HARRISON  OF 

THE  SOUTHERN  RAILWAY,  JANUARY  4,  1916.     LETTER 

FROM  THE  GOVERNOR  IN  REPLY  THERETO 

Southern  Railway  Company 
Office  of  the  President 

Washington,  D.  C,  January  4,  1916. 
The  Hon.  Locke  Craig,  Governor, 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 

Dear.  Governor  Craig  : — I  have  read  with  interest  your  statement  published 
in  the  Raleigh  News  and  Observer  newspaper  yesterday  about  the  new  interstate 
freight  tariffs  which  went  into  effect  in  the  South  on  January  1. 

These  tariffs  are  revolutionary,  but  they  are  not  of  the  seeking  of  the  railroads. 
The  historical  development  of  freight  rates  in  the  South  has  been  on  the  so-called 
basing  points  ever  since  the  first  through  railroads  were  built.  They  violated  the 
long  and  short  haul  principle  when  that  came  to  be  formulated,  but  under  them 
the  South  has  had  its  amazing  industrial  development  during  the  past  twenty 
years,  and  I  have  never  been  convinced  that  they  were  worthy  of  all  the  condemna- 
tion which  has  been  visited  upon  them  politically.  By  the  act  of  Congress  as 
amended  June  18,  1910,  it  was  finally  determined  that  the  long  and  short  haul 
principle  should  be  applied  and,  after  full  investigation,  the  Interstate  Commerce 
Commission  ordered  the  railroads  of  the  South  to  apply  it.    For  your  information, 


124        LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

I  enclose  a  copy  of  their  opinion  of  April  13,  1914.  Loyally,  but  with  many  mis- 
givings, the  railroads  went  to  work  to  carry  this  judgment  into  effect.  The  further 
they  got  into  it  the  more  disturbances  of  existing  conditions  they  realized  would 
result.  Accordingly,  under  date  of  January  25,  1915,  the  presidents  of  the  prin- 
cipal lines  in  the  South  made  public  a  warning  on  the  subject  which  was  widely 
distributed  but  little  heeded.  I  am  informed  that  a  copy  was  sent  to  you,  but 
doubtless  did  not  come  to  your  attention.     I  inclose  another  copy  herewith. 

When  at  last,  after  eighteen  months  bard  work,  the  new  tariffs  were  prepared 
and  filed,  it  became  apparent  that  the  basing  point  cities  of  the  South  had  just 
awakened  to  the  situation.  At  the  last  minute  they  brought  strong  political  pres- 
sure upon  the  Interstate  Commerce  Commission  to  suspend  the  tariffs ;  but  that 
body,  under  the  spur  of  the  act  of  Congress,  refused  to  interfere. 

Speaking  for  one  railroad  in  the  South,  I  was  content  to  try  to  work  out  our 
salvation  under  the  old  rate  structure,  though  I  realized  that  we  would  doubtless 
have  in  time  to  ask  for  increased  rates  to  meet  the  steadily  increasing  expenses, 
many  of  which  are  not  under  our  control.  The  revised  tariffs  were  not  intended 
to  increase  revenues,  though  my  own  judgment  is  that  the  immediate  effect  will 
be  the  equivalent  of  a  moderate  increase,  as  merchandise  will  probably  continue 
to  move  to  the  old  basing  point  cities  which  take  the  higher  rates  until  the  inter- 
mediate cities,  which  in  many  instances  get  lower  rates,  can  realize  their  oppor- 
tunities as  distributing  and  jobbing  points.  Some  of  my  colleagues  do  not  agree 
with  me  on  this.  After  all,  it  is  a  matter  of  opinion,  and  only  experience  can 
show  what  the  result  may  be  in  the  matter  of  railroad  revenue.  The  real  benefit 
to  the  railroads  of  the  new  tariffs,  when  business  in  the  South  has  become  adjusted 
to  them,  lies  in  the  removal  of  the  long-standing  complaint  that  the  basing  point 
cities  have  had  special  privileges  in  their  depressed  rates  and  that  the  railroads 
have  discriminated  against  the  intermediate  cities  which  have  grown  to  importance 
in  recent  years.  I  look  for  comfort  in  this,  though  I  do  not  venture  to  predict 
what  may  be  the  economic  effect  of  this  application  of  a  political  theory  to  a 
practical  business  situation.  My  main  purpose  in  writing  to  you  is  to  invite  your 
realization  that  we  have  been  put,  without  our  own  volition,  between  two  mill- 
stones. 

I  was  somewhat  disturbed  by  your  apparent  understanding  that  the  readjust- 
ment discriminates  against  North  Carolina.  I  knew  that  was  not  the  intention, 
and  I  am  glad  to  be  advised  by  our  traffic  officers  that  it  is  not  the  fact.  When 
the  tariffs  are  studied,  I  have  no  doubt  that  you  will  be  advised  that  North  Caro- 
lina's position  with  respect  to  Southeastern  and  Mississippi  Valley  territory  is, 
on  the  whole,  bettered  by  this  readjustment,  which  recognizes  in  all  cases  Virginia 
cities  rates  as  maxima  and  to  a  portion  of  the  territory  differentials  under  Virginia 
cities,  which  North  Carolina  has  not  heretofore  enjoyed.  To  illustrate,  prior  to 
January  1  the  first-class  rate  from  Richmond  and  from  Greensboro  to  Atlanta  was 
84  cents.  Effective  January  1,  the  Richmond  rate  was  advanced  16  cents  and  the 
rate  from  Greensboro  increased  9  cents. 

Furthermore,  when  revision  is  completed,  rates  from  the  Eastern  seaboard  by 
water  and  rail  to  North  Carolina  destinations  will  include  marine  insurance,  which 
is  not  the  case  now. 

All  of  this  was  recently  explained  to  Chairman  Travis. 

Believe  me,  with  respect  and  esteem,  Yours  faithfully, 

Fairfax  Harrison, 

President. 


REDUCTION  OF  FREIGHT  RATES  125 

To  the  People  Served  by  the  Railroads  of  the  South: 

An  order  of  the  Interstate  Commerce  Commission,  pursuant  to  require- 
ments of  Federal  law,  compels  a  general  revision  of  Southern  freight  rates. 
It  is  proper  that  the  people  of  the  South  should  be  informed  as  to  the 
reasons  for  this  revision  and  the  principles  upon  which  it  is  being  made. 

Excepting  the  Norfolk  and  "Western,  Chespeake  and  Ohio,  and  Virginian 
Railways,  which  lie  in  Official  Classification  territory,  the  railroads  of  the 
Southeast  receive  virtually  no  part  of  the  5  per  cent  increase  in  rates 
acquiesced  in  by  the  Interstate  Commerce  Commission.  While  the  need  of 
the  carriers  of  the  South  for  increased  revenue  is  certainly  no  less  than  is 
that  of  the  Northern  and  Eastern  roads,  that  need  is  in  no  way  related  to 
the  revision  of  rates  now  in  progress,  which  arises  solely  from  the  necessity 
of  more  nearly  conforming  to  the  so-called  "long  and  short  haul  clause"  of 
the  law  as  amended  in  1910,  and  as  now  construed  by  the  Interstate  Com- 
merce Commission. 

The  original  Act  to  Regulate  Commerce  forbade  the  making  of  lower 
rates  for  a -longer  than  for  a  shorter  distance  within  the  same  line  or  route 
under  substantially  the  same  circumstances  and  conditions.  The  carriers 
were  free  to  meet  competition  as  they  found  it,  and  were  required  to  answer 
only  upon  complaint  as  to  the  reasonableness  of  their  acts. 

The  amendment  of  1910  deprived  the  carriers  of  the  right  to  initiate  de- 
partures from  the  long  and  short  haul  requirement,  and  they  may  no  longer 
meet  competition  as  they  find  it  if  the  long  and  short  haul  requirement  of 
the  law  is  involved,  unless  they  can  first  obtain  the  approval  of  the  Inter- 
state Commerce  Commission. 

They  were  furthermore  required,  by  this  change  in  the  law,  to  apply  to 
the  Commission  for  authority  to  continue  in  force  rates  existing  at  the  time 
of  its  passage  which  contravened  the  long  and  short  haul  principle. 

The  existing  rate  structure  of  the  South  is  not  the  creation  of  traffic  man- 
agers of  this  generation.  It  is  an  inheritance  from  those  who  built  the 
roads,  and  finds  its  explanation  largely  in  the  geography  of  the  South,  and 
in  a  public  policy  which  encouraged  its  creation.  The  changes  now  in 
progress  are  not  of  the  carriers'  choice. 

Water  competition,  the  most  important  factor  in  bringing  about  depart- 
ure from  the  long  and  short  haul  principle  of  the  law,  has  been  peculiarly 
influential  on  the  rate  adjustments  of  the  South,  surrounded  as  it  is  o<n 
three  sides  by  navigable  water  and  penetrated  by  navigable  streams.  Ter- 
mini of  the  first  roads  were  on  navigable  waters  and  rates  between  those  ter- 
mini were  from  the  beginning  depressed  because  of  this  water  competition. 
When,  subsequently,  railways  were  extended  to  the  interior,  distributing 
points  were  thereby  created,  where  there  arose  competition  of  two  or  more 
markets,  or  two  or  more  carriers,  resulting  in  depressions  in  rates,  even 
when  there  was  no  direct  water  competition. 

These  conditions  undoubtedly  contributed  to  the  commercial  and  indus- 
trial development  of  the  interior  South,  and,  -while  they  resulted  in  more 
frequent  departures  from  the  long  and  short  haul  principle  of  the  law, 
the  carriers  had  every  reason  to  believe  that  their  practice  had  the  approval 
of  the  public,  even  when  it  was  not  directly  the  result  of  public  demand. 

Now,  the  Interstate  Commerce  Commission,  pursuant  to  the  require- 
ments of  an  amended  law,  has  concluded  an  inquiry  into  rates  from  the 
Eastern  Seaboard,  including  the  Virginia  cities,  from  South  Atlantic  and 
Gulf  ports,  and  from  Ohio  and  Mississippi  River  crossings,  into  the  South- 
east and  Mississippi  Valley  territory.  As  a  result  the  Commission  has  in 
large  measure  condemned  existing  departures  from  the  long  and  short  haul 


126        LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

requirement,  except  where  justified  by  competition  beyond  the  control  of  the 
rail  carriers,  a  phrase  which  came  to  be  restricted  to  mean  direct  or  indirect 
water  competition. 

Obviously,  the  removal  of  inequalities  condemned  by  the  Commission,  by 
reductions  only,  would  result  in  disaster  to  the  carriers.  This  fact  is  recog- 
nized by  the  Commission,  which,  in  its  review  of  the  situation,  stated: 

"It  is  entirely  clear  that  the  revenues  of  a  large  percentage 
of  the  lines  in  the  Southeastern  territory  would  be  so  impaired  by 
such  a  procedure  as  to  make  it  impossible  for  them  to  meet  their 
operating  expenses,  taxes,  and  fixed  charges,  and  leave  their  stock- 
holders even  a  moderate  return." 

It  is  equally  obvious  that  it  would  be  unfair  to  punish  the  carriers,  in 
conforming  to  a  changed  public  policy,  for  acts  which  at  the  time  of  com- 
mission were  approved  by  public  opinion. 

Hence  in  working  out  the  order  of  the  Commission  such  elevation  of 
rates  to  the  depressed  points  must  accompany  reductions  to  the  much  larger 
number  of  intermediate  points  as  will  at  least  preserve  the  revenues  of  the 
carriers. 

The  task  of  revision  is  no  easy  one.  It  has  been  undertaken  in  loyal 
effort  to  conform  to  the  law,  as  now  interpreted,  and  to  be  fair  to  all. 

Departures  from  the  long  and  short  haul  principle  in  the  South  are  not 
confined  to  interstate  traffic.  There  are  in  the  South  a  great  many  intra- 
state rates  that  do  not  conform  to  the  principle.  If  undue  discriminations 
are  to  be  avoided,  these  intrastate  rates  must  be  brought  into  harmony 
with  the  revised  interstate  adjustment  being  made  under  the  direction  of 
the  Interstate  Commerce  Commission.  It  is  the  purpose  of  the  railways  of 
the  South  to  take  up  each  intrastate  revision  with  the  several  State  Rail- 
road Commissions. 

J.  R.  Kenly,  President, 
Atlantic  Coast  Line  Railroad  Company. 
W.  A.  Winbtjrn,  President, 
Central  of  Georgia  Railway  Company. 
M.  H.  Smith,  President, 
Louisville  and  Nashville  Railroad  Company. 
W.  J.  Harahan, 
President,  Seaboard  Air  Line  Railway. 

Fairfax  Harrison, 
President,  Southern  Railway  Company. 
January  25,  1915. 


State  of  North  Carolina 

Governor's  Office 

Ealeigh 

January  6,  1916. 
Mr.  Fairfax  Harrison, 

President,  Southern  Railway, 

Washington,  D.  C. 
My  dear  Mr.  Harrison  : — Accept  my  thanks  for  your  letter  of  January  4th. 
It  seems  clear  to  me  that  North  Carolina  is  entitled  to  a  lower  rate  on  freight 
going  south  than  the  Virginia  cities.     I  understand  that  these  cities  of  Virginia 
are  on  an  average  of  189  miles  farther  from  the  markets  south  of  us.     It  may  be 


REDUCTION  OF  FREIGHT  RATES  127 

that  these  rates  are  fixed  on  account  of  identity  of  zone;  but  when  the  North 
Carolina  cities  have  such  a  great  advantage  as  to  locality  in  the  southern  markets, 
are  they  not  entitled  to  a  corresponding  reduction  in  rates?  Is  it  equitable  to 
place  us  arbitrarily  in  the  same  zone  with  Virginia? 

The  carriers  recognize  the  right  of  North  Carolina  to  a  lower  rate  on  account 
of  the  shorter  distance  by  fixing  the  rate  from  North  Carolina  points  to  Atlanta 
at  93  cents;  while  from  the  Virginia  cities,  or  at  least  from  Richmond,  it  is  $1. 
Is  there  any  reason  why  a  differential  in  favor  of  North  Carolina  should  be  con- 
fined to  Atlanta  and  immediate  territory?  And  assuming  that  North  Carolina  is 
entitled  to  a  favorable  differential,  is  she  not  entitled  to  much  more  than  seven 
cents  ? 

Since  coming  into  the  office  of  Governor  I  have  been  impressed  with  the  desire 
of  the  managers  of  the  carriers  of  the  South  to  render  good  service,  and  conduct 
the  business  in  conformity  with  a  just  opinion. 

Having  this  regard  for  the  carriers,  I  would  be  very  much  obliged  if  you 
would  give  me  your  views  on  the  questions  that  I  have  asked  in  this  letter. 

Yours  sincerely,  LocKE  c^% 

Governor. 


(25) 
STATEMENT  TO  THE  PRESS.     JANUARY  10,  1916 

In  regard  to  the  schedule  of  freight  rates  put  into  effect  by  the  Interstate  Com- 
merce Commission  on  January  1st,  Governor  Craig  said  this  morning: 

"I  have  seen  it  stated  in  some  of  the  papers  that  North  Carolina  gets  a  favor- 
able differential  of  7  cents  over  Virginia  on  freight  going  south.  This  is  a  mis- 
take. "We  get  this  7  cents  differential  on  first-class  freight  under  the  rate  from 
Virginia  cities  only  to  'a  limited  territory  which  includes  Atlanta.' 

"If,"  continued  the  Governor,  "we  are  entitled  to  an  advantage  over  Virginia 
on  freight  going  to  'a,  limited  territory  which  includes  Atlanta,'  by  the  same  prin- 
ciple we  are  entitled  to  an  advantage  over  Virginia  on  freight  going  to  all  points 
south  of  us. 

"This  differential  of  7  cents  to  'a,  limited  territory  which  includes  Atlanta,  is 
insignificant.    It  is  a  sop  to  Cerebus ! 

"These  cities  in  Virginia  that  have  the  same  rate  that  we  have  on  freight 
going  south  are  on  an  average  189  miles  farther  from  the  southern  markets  than 
we  are.  The  rate  on  first-class  freight  going  to  these  markets  from  Virginia  is, 
I  believe,  about  20  cents  a  hundred  miles.  On  the  ratio  of  the  mileage,  this  would 
give  us  a  rate  to  these  southern  points  of  about  40  cents  less  than  Virginia ;  that 
is,  if  they  have  a  rate  of  $1  on  this  basis  we  should  have  a  rate  of  60  cents.  But  we 
recognize  the  principle  that  the  rate  of  the  longer  haul  is  somewhat  less  than  the 
rate  of  the  shorter  haul.  Conceding  all  that  can  be  claimed  in  favor  of  the  longer 
haul,  we  would  certainly  be  entitled  to  a  rate  as  much  as  20  cents  less  than  the 
Virginia  cities  on  all  freights  going  to  these  markets  south  of  us — certainly  an 
average  of  20  cents  less — some  cases  more;  some  cases  less.  Instead  of  this,  our 
rate  on  freight  going  south  has  been  raised  along  with  the  Virginia  cities  16  cents 


128        LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

and  more  on  the  hundred,  except  to  that  'limited  territory  which  includes  Atlanta, 
where  we  get  the  insignificant  differential  of  7  cents. 

"The  fact  that  North  Carolina  has  heretofore  paid  on  this  freight  going  south 
as  much  as  the  cities  of  Virginia  is  no  reason  for  the  injustice  to  continue. 

"Virginia  gets  an  advantage  by  reason  of  her  geographical  location  on  freight 
rates  to  the  north.  By  the  same  principle  North  Carolina  is  entitled  to  an  advan- 
tage by  reason  of  her  geographical  location  on  freights  to  the  markets  south  of 
her.    We  want  a  square  deal. 

"The  territory  south  of  us  is  the  natural  market  for  the  things  that  we  pro- 
duce, and  which  that  country  needs.  We  are  entitled  to  that  market,  and  we  are 
entitled  to  the  advantages  in  rates  in  accordance  with  the  natural  situation. 

"The  railroads  in  the  past  have  by  the  arbitrary  fixing  of  freight  rates  created 
and  destroyed  the  business  prosperity  of  cities  and  communities.  The  Interstate 
Commerce  Commission,  our  Corporation  Commission,  and  like  tribunals  have  been 
established  to  guarantee  to  the  people  fair  dealing  and  equity  according  to  their 
natural  advantages.  If  the  cities  of  Virginia  get  an  advantage  by  reason  of  their 
locality,  and  we  do  not  get  an  advantage  by  reason  of  our  locality,  then  we  cannot 
compete  on  fair  terms  with  them.  Our  markets  will  not  thrive,  and  our  people 
will  not  prosper  as  they  would  under  equitable  conditions. 

"There  is  a  great  deal  of  freight — many  commodities  shipped  to  points  south 
of  us.  That  section  would  naturally  look  to  us  as  the  source  of  supply  for  furni- 
ture, cotton  goods,  bagging,  tobacco,  fruit,  cabbages,  etc.  We  are  entitled  on  all 
of  these  articles  to  a  much  lower  rate  than  the  Virginia  cities. 

"For  the  last  few  years  it  has  been  apparent  that  we  should  produce  a  surplus 
of  corn,  hay,  cattle,  and  meat.  Our  Department  of  Agriculture,  the  State  press, 
and  all  of  us  have  been  trying  to  induce  our  farmers  to  pay  more  attention  to  the 
diversification  of  crops,  and  to  the  cultivation  and  the  production  of  such  things. 
We  have  begun  it.  North  Carolina  is  now  producing  more  corn  and,  I  believe, 
more  meat  than  she  consumes.  She  is  developing  rapidly  along  these  lines,  and 
in  a  few  years  she  will  come  to  be  a  State,  under  proper  conditions,  that  will 
largely  export  meat,  hay,  grain,  and  an  increasing  quantity  of  apples.  The  cities 
to  the  south  of  us  are  our  natural  markets.  We  should  have  for  these  products  an 
equitable  rate,  otherwise  our  farmers  will  not  have  the  proper  encouragement  and 
that  development  and  growth  and  prosperity  will  not  result  which  is  ours  by  right. 

"The  Corporation  Commission  stated  in  Washington: 

"  'This  suspension  is  asked  for  the  reason  that  the  effect  of  the  new  rates 
proposed  in  said  tariff  will  be  to  substantially  and  unreasonably  advance 
class  and  commodity  rates  from  nearly  all  points  of  origin  in  North  Caro- 
lina to  many  important  common  points  in  the  South  and  Southwest,  to  the 
undue  prejudice  of  the  commercial  and  manufacturing  interests  of  the  State. 

"  'The  proposed  advance  in  rates  substantially  and  unreasonably  in- 
creases rates  on  many  products  manufactured  in  North  Carolina,  and  par- 
ticularly on  furniture,  from  North  Carolina  points  of  origin  to  the  South 
and  Southwest.  The  furniture  manufacturing  interest  in  North  Carolina  is 
the  second  largest  of  any  State  in  the  Union  and  competes  in  the  South  and 
Southwest  territory  with  furniture  manufactured  in  Central  Freight  Associa- 
tion territory,  and  the  effect  of  the  proposed  advance  in  rates  from  North 
Carolina  points  of  origin  will  put  the  said  North  Carolina  manufacturers  at 
an  unjust  disadvantage  in  competition  in  said  territory.' 

"This  is  not  an  overstatement  of  the  case,  by  any  means. 


REDUCTION  OF  FREIGHT  RATES  129 

"Nothing  should  be  left  undone,  and  nothing  will  be  left  undone,  to  guarantee 
to  our  people  an  equitable  rate  on  that  large  body  of  freight  produced  in  North 
Carolina  moving  to  the  south. 

"I  wish  for  Virginia  the  greatest  prosperity,  but  I  do  not  desire  Virginia  to 
profit  over  North  Carolina  by  this  arbitrary  and  unjust  arrangement.  The  advan- 
tages which  they  have  by  geographical  position  I  would  not  deny.  But  I  contend 
that  Worth  Carolina  should  enjoy  the  natural  advantages  which  she  has  by  her 
geographical  position.  This  right  is  plain.  It  cannot  be  denied.  I  do  not  believe 
that  it  will  be  denied  by  any  court  that  will  pass  upon  it. 

"I  desire  no  contest  with  the  railroads.  I  believe  that  they  are  managed  by 
men  that  wish  to  do  the  South  justice.  Their  prosperity  means  our  prosperity; 
and  our  prosperity  means  their  increasing  prosperity.  On  a  clear  presentation  of 
this  question  it  seems  to  me  that  the  men  who  control  these  carriers  must  agree 
with  us.    I  believe  that  they  will.     No  man  can  deny  the  justice  of  our  contention. 

"The  Interstate  Commerce  Commission  has  put  these  rates  into  effect,  but  has 
declared  that  the  adjudication  is  not  final.    North  Carolina  will  be  heard." 


(26) 

LETTER  OF  PRESIDENT  FAIRFAX  HARRISON  OF  THE 
SOUTHERN  RAILWAY 

Southern  Railway  Company 
Office  of  the  President 

Washington,  D.  C,  January  11,  1916. 

My  dear  Governor: — I  am  obliged  to  you  for  your  letter  of  January  6th. 

The  questions  you  raise  go  to  the  very  vitals  of  the  art  of  rate-making.  I  do 
not  profess  to  be  able  to  say  finally  and  definitely  what  is  a  just  measure  of  the 
rights  of  any  State  or  community  in  a  delicate  adjustment  affecting  an  entire 
territory.  Rate-making,  like  all  price-fixing,  has  never  been  a  science,  and  the 
only  satisfactory  test  of  success  which  I  have  ever  been  able  to  apply  myself  has 
been  whether  a  normal  community  has  thriven  under  the  rates  it  has  had.  Consider- 
ing the  conflicting  and  selfish  interests  involved  in  such  an  issue  as  is  involved  in 
the  present  situation,  and  the  still  surviving,  if  utterly  unjust,  belief  on  the  part 
of  many  that  the  railroads  are  always  attempting  to  do  something  unfair,  I  have 
welcomed  the  fact  that  the  ultimate  decision  rests  with  a  duly  constituted  tribunal 
like  the  Interstate  Commerce  Commission,  which  can  claim  to  be  impartial.  In 
saying  this,  I  know  that  the  traffic  officers,  who  have  devoted  their  lives  to  the  study 
of  these  questions,  went  into  their  recent  arduous  and  long  sustained  labors  with 
a  high  and  patriotic  belief  in  their  opportunity  to  work  out  this  radical  readjust- 
ment to  one  end  only,  namely,  with  fair  consideration  for  railroad  revenues,  to 
bring  about  an  adjustment  of  rates  that  will  remove,  as  far  as  may  be,  occasions 
for  complaint  of  discrimination,  and  to  give  to  each  community  affected  rates 
which  are  just  both  in  amount  and  in  relationship.     If  they  have  failed  in  any 

9 


130        LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

particular  it  lias  not  been  through  intention,  and  it  remains  for  those  who  can 
appreciate  all  the  difficulties  of  the  problem  to  suggest  a  remedy. 

We  have  felt  that  after  the  Fourth  Section  work  is  completed,  the  only  sub- 
stantial questions  which  will  be  left  for  debate  with  North  Carolina,  or  any  other 
community,  are  those  (a)  of  relative  adjustment,  and  (b)  of  the  measure  of  the 
rates  themselves :  two  questions  which  we  have  always  with  us  and  about  which 
it  is  always  difficult  to  agree;  but  at  least  the  issue  is  narrowed. 

I  am,  therefore,  pleased  to  note  that  your  letter  raises  no  question  except  one 
of  relationship,  narrowed  down  to  that  of  what  is  a  fair  difference,  North  Caro- 
lina points  under  Virginia  cities  to  a  territory  where  North  Carolina  has  the 
advantage  of  distance. 

As  Mr.  Travis  understands,  the  entire  North  Carolina  situation  has  not  been 
treated,  for  the  reason  that  the  Carolinas  were  not,  in  their  entirety,  covered  by 
the  Commission's  review  which  brought  forth  the  general  Fourth  Section  order 
under  which  we  are  now  working.  The  Commission  has  within  the  past  thirty 
days  had  a  partial  hearing  respecting  rates  from  the  West  to  points  in  North 
Carolina  and  Virginia  via  the  routes  through  Atlanta  and  Asheville. 

As  the  revision  proceeds,  the  question  of  rates  into  and  out  of  North  Carolina 
must  have  further  consideration,  and  we  believe  that  finally,  after  the  adjustment 
has  been  fairly  tested,  it  will  produce  reasonably  satisfactory  results.  In  the 
meantime,  permit  me  to  say,  as  to  the  particular  set  of  differentials  to  which  you 
refer,  the  average  difference  in  distance  below  the  Virginia  cities  from  the  zone 
from  which  it  applies  is  not  as  great  as  is  the  average  distance  from  the  Virginia 
cities  to  the  zone  extending  from  Winston-Salem  through  Greensboro  to  Goldsboro 
and  Kinston,  to  which  the  rates  from  the  Virginia  cities  are  the  same  and  to 
which  the  average  distance  approximates  189  miles. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  differential  accorded  points  in  the  Greensboro  zone 
under  the  Virginia  cities  to  Atlanta  is  exactly  the  same  as  is  the  differential 
Baltimore  over  the  Virginia  cities  to  Atlanta,  and  this  scale  of  differentials  is 
the  same  as  that  applied  under  the  revision  throughout  the  territory  where  the 
total  rates  in  one  case  begin  with  93  cents  and  in  the  other  $1  on  first  class. 

This  differential  in  favor  of  North  Carolina  is  not  confined  to  Atlanta  and 
intermediate  territory.  It  already  extends  to  a  zone  west  of  Atlanta  on  our  line 
and  on  that  of  the  Seaboard.  Just  how  much  further  it  may  be  properly  extended 
is  subject  of  further  consideration,  and  the  matter  is  not  altogether  in  our  hands 
to  control. 

Perhaps  I  should  explain  that  most  of  the  lines  serving  the  territory  south  and 
southwest  of  Atlanta,  and  which  do  not  reach  the  Virginia  cities,  contend  that 
even  to  Atlanta  the  Virginia  cities  are  not  entitled  to  rates  lower  than  from  Cin- 
cinnati, or  lower  than  via  rail  and  water  routes  from  Baltimore  through  South 
Atlantic  ports;  their  contention  being  that  the  long  rail  haul  from  the  Virginia 
cities  is  a  line  of  greater  resistance  than  is  the  long  water  haul  from  Baltimore 
plus  the  short  rail  hauls  from  South  Atlantic  ports  to  these  southeastern  destina- 
tions. There  is  undoubtedly  great  merit  in  this  contention,  and,  in  so  far  as  that 
position  is  sound  with  respect  to  the  Virginia  cities,  it  must  be  conceded  to  be 
sound  with  respect  to  the  North  Carolina  territory  where  the  disparity  of  long 
rail  hauls  versus  the  water  and  rail  haul  also  exists. 

To  the  territory  reached  through  Asheville  it  is  a  fact  that  the  average  dis- 
tance to  Morristown,  the  point  of  convergence,  from  Eastern  North  Carolina  via 


REDUCTION  OF  FREIGHT  RATES  131 

Asheville  is  quite  as  great  as  is  the  average  distance  from  Norfolk,  Roanoke,  and 
the  intermediate  points  from  which  the  Virginia  cities  rates  apply  via  the  route 
through  Bristol. 

Mr.  Green  has  had  two  brief  conferences  with  Commissioner  Travis  on  this 
subject.  These  conferences  took  place  during  the  time  that  the  Interstate  Com- 
merce Commission  was  giving  consideration  to  the  various  applications  for  sus- 
pension of  the  revised  tariffs.  In  the  nature  of  things,  no  conclusion  could  be 
reached ;  but  Mr.  Travis  has  our  assurance  of  a  further  very  thorough  considera- 
tion of  this  matter  and  a  further  conference  with  him  for  its  discussion  in  detail. 

Faithfully  yours, 

Fairfax  Harbison, 

President. 
The  Hon.  Locke  Craig,  Governor, 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 


(Ill) 

PROCLAMATIONS  BY  THE  GOVERNOR 


PROCLAMATIONS  BY  THE  GOVERNOR 

1.  Convening  the  General  Assembly  in  Extra  Session  on 

September  2k,  1913. 

2.  Good  Roads  Days,  November  5  and  6,  1914. 

3.  Arbor  Day. 

i.  Fire  Prevention  Day. 

5.  Belief  of  the  Belgians. 

6.  Jewish  Belief  Day. 

7.  Thanksgiving  Day,  1913. 

8.  Thanksgiving  Day,  191k- 

9.  Thanksgiving  Day,  1915. 

10.  Thanksgiving  Day,  1916. 

11.  Election  of  Bresidential  Electors. 


(1) 

CONVENING  THE  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY  IN  EXTRA  SESSION 
ON  SEPTEMBER  24,  1913 

State  of  North  Carolina 

Executive  Department 

Raleigh 

A  Proclamation  by  the  Governor 

By  and  with  the  advice  of  the  Council  of  State,  I,  Locke  Craig,  Governor  of 
the  State  of  North  Carolina,  in  the  exercise  of  the  power  conferred  upon  me  by 
the  Constitution,  and  in  accordance  with  the  resolution  passed  by  the  General 
Assembly,  and  ratified  on  the  6th  day  of  February,  1913,  do  issue  this  my  procla- 
mation on  this  extraordinary  occasion,  convening  the  General  Assembly  in  Extra 
Session.  I  do,  therefore,  notify  and  request  the  Senators  and  the  Members  of  the 
House  of  Representatives  of  the  General  Assembly  of  North  Carolina  to  meet  in 
their  respective  halls,  in  the  Capitol,  in  the  city  of  Raleigh,  on  the  24th  day  of 
September,  1913,  at  11  o'clock  a.  m.,  for  the  following  specific  purposes: 

1.  To  provide  for  the  people  of  North  Carolina  just  transportation  rates,  and 
to  adjust  the  relations  and  obligations  between  the  State  of  North  Carolina  and 
the  railroads  operating  within  the  territory  of  this  State. 

2.  To  receive  the  report  of  the  Constitutional  Commission  and  to  consider  the 
submission  to  the  people  of  amendments  to  the  Constitution. 

In  witness  whereof,  I,  Locke  Craig,  Governor  and  Commander-in-Chief,  have 
hereunto  set  my  hand  and  caused  the  Great  Seal  of  the  State  to  be  affixed. 

Done  in  our  city  of  Raleigh,  this  the  18th  day  of  July,  in  the  year  of 
[great     our  Lord  one  thousand  nine  hundred  and  thirteen,  and  in  the  one  hun- 
seal]     dred  and  thirty-eighth  year  of  our  independence. 

Locke  Craig, 
By  the  Governor:  Governor. 

Jno.  P.  Kere, 

Private  Secretary. 


136   LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

(2) 

GOOD  ROADS  DAYS,  NOVEMBER  5  AND  6,  1914 

State  of  North  Carolina 

Executive  Department 

Raleigh 

A  Proclamation  by  the  Governor 

Whereas  the  modern  highway  is  essential  to  material  prosperity  and  to  the 
advancement  of  the  social  life  of  every  community;  every  people  that  aspires  to 
join  the  forward  procession  and  that  hopes  for  the  opportunities  of  our  time  is 
beginning  to  realize  the  necessity  of  improved  roads;  all  sections  and  all  pro- 
gressive citizens  are  demanding  them  and  determined  to  have  them ;  the  whole 
country  has  awakened  to  their  importance ;  everywhere  there  is  a  generous  rivalry 
to  have  the  best,  and  everywhere  enthusiasm  for  them  is  apparent  and  increas- 
ing; and 

Whereas  the  people  of  North  Carolina  are  losing,  according  to  reliable  esti- 
mate, twelve  million  dollars  annually  on  account  of  bad  roads — this  vast  sum  paid 
as  a  tribute  to  mud  : 

Now,  therefore,  recognizing  the  universal  sentiment  for  road  improvement,  and 
realizing  the  benefits  which  must  result  therefrom  to  all  the  people,  I,  Locke  Craig 
Governor  of  North  Carolina,  do  set  apart  Wednesday,  the  5th  day  of  November 
and  Thursday,  the  6th  of  November,  1913,  as  Good  Roads  Days,  and  do  appoint 
these  days  as  holidays  and  days  of  festival  throughout  the  State,  to  celebrate  the 
beginning  of  an  era  wherein  improved  highways  shall  be  built  in  every  neighbor- 
hood, that  all  the  people  of  farm  and  city  may  enjoy  the  opportunities  which  they 
bring. 

I  call  upon  all  patriotic  people  throughout  the  State  to  work  upon  the  public 
roads  and  refrain  from  all  other  occupations  on  these  appointed  days ;  and  I  call 
upon  every  able-bodied  man  to  shoulder  his  shovel  and  march  out  and  strike  a 
blow  for  progress.  Let  the  farmer,  the  merchant,  the  lawyer,  the  doctor,  the  minis- 
ter of  the  gospel,  the  rich  and  the  poor,  and  the  men  of  all  the  walks  of  life  enlist 
as  volunteers  in  this  mighty  army  for  grand  accomplishment. 

Let  no  man  be  above  this  work,  nor  forget  his  duty  to  himself  and  to  his 
neighbors.  It  will  be  an  honor  to  every  man  on  these  days  to  labor  with  his 
fellow-man  to  banish  from  the  country  the  curse  of  bad  roads  and  the  evils  that 
accompany  them. 

Let  all  the  people  of  every  station,  high  or  low,  be  moved  by  the  same  patriotic 
impulse  to  work  for  the  common  weal.  To  all  the  benefit  will  come.  Let  all 
participate. 

I  do  appoint  and  set  apart  these  days,  the  5th  and  6th  of  November,  that  the 
people  may  have  an  opportunity  to  give  substantial  expression  to  the  universal 
desire  and  determination  of  the  State,  in  action  inspired  by  hope  and  rejoicing 
that  will  resound  in  one  unbroken  chorus  from  the  mountains  to  the  sea. 

I  call  upon  all  the  women  to  participate.  In  every  hour  of  danger  they  have 
inspired  the  men  of  North  Carolina  with  faith  and  courage ;  in  this  day  of  realiza- 
tion they,  with  their  children,  will  come  to  lend  to  this  noble  cause  the  charm  and 


PROCLAMATIONS  BY  THE  GOVERNOR  137 

the  encouragement  of  their  presence.     They  can  provide  good  things  to  eat  and 
decorate  every  worker  with  a  badge  of  honor. 

Let  every  citizen  do  his  duty,  and  these  days  will  be  long  remembered  for  the 
impetus  they  gave  to  the  cause  of  good  roads  and  a  finer  civic  spirit. 

I  call  upon  the  county  commissioners  of  every  county  in  the  State  to  issue  a 
proclamation  urging  the  people  to  go  out  on  the  5th  and  6th  days  of  November 
and  labor  for  the  welfare  of  their  respective  counties  and  communities  as  well  as 
for  the  whole  State  of  which  they  constitute  a  part. 

I  call  upon  the  president  of  the  Farmers'  Union  to  issue  his  proclamation  to 
the  farmers  of  North  Carolina  and  to  their  various  local  organizations  that  this 
great  body  of  our  citizenship,  constituting  as  it  does  the  bone  and  sinew  of  the 
State,  may  join  with  energy  and  enthusiasm  in  this  movement.  More  than  any 
other  class  of  our  people  they  are  dependent  upon  the  country  road.  More  attract- 
ive homes,  better  farming,  and  a  finer  rural  life  will  result  from  the  building  of 
modern  highways. 

Let  the  work  be  completely  organized  so  that  it  will  reach  to  every  neighbor- 
hood "and  be  conducted  in  a  systematic  and  business  way,  to  the  end  that  at  sun- 
set of  the  second  day  there  will  be  no  community  in  all  the  State  where  the  hand 
of  progress  and  toil  has  not  left  its  mark  in  permanent  road  improvement  and  the 
progressive  spirit  its  impression  in  the  hearts  and  minds  of  the  people." 

I  call  upon  the  ministers  of  the  gospel,  the  educators,  and  the  press  of  the  State 
to  use  their  mighty  influence  for  this  work  which  means  not  only  material  develop- 
ment, but  moral  and  intellectual  development. 

I  call  upon  all  road  overseers,  good  roads  associations,  boards  of  trade,  cham- 
bers of  commerce,  and  all  associations  and  organizations  for  the  public  welfare 
and  civic  betterment  to  give  to  this  movement  the  energy  of  their  influence. 

I  call  upon  the  mayor  of  every  town  and  city  of  North  Carolina  to  issue  his 
proclamation  that  his  people  may  enlist  in  this  organization  and  in  the  building 
of  roads  upon  which  the  prosperity  of  town  and  city  depends. 

Let  every  North  Carolinian  show  by  his  work  that  he  is  for  the  improvement 
of  his  State.  "Let  us  labor  that  we  may  enjoy  the  fruits  today  and  our  children  a 
fuller  fruition  tomorrow." 

Done  at  our  City  of  Kaleigh,  this  the  27th  day  of  September,  in  the 
[great     year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  nine  hundred  and  thirteen,  and  in  the  one 
seal]     hundred  and  thirty-eighth  year  of  our  American  independence. 

Locke  Craig, 
By  the  Governor :  Governor. 

Jno.  P.  Keek, 

Private  Secretary. 

Note. — The  Governor  went  to  Asheville  for  Good  Roads  Days  and  spent  them  working 
the  Buncombe  County  roads,  along  with  many  of  Buncombe's  leading  citizens.  On  these 
days  the  citizens  of  every  community  turned  out  in  large  numbers  and  the  work  done 
by  them  upon  the  public  roads  has  been  of  lasting  benefit  to  the  State.  The  women  did 
their  part,  too.  They  prepared  dinners  and  other  refreshments  and  served  the  work- 
men with  their  own  hands. 


138    LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

(3) 
ARBOR  DAY 

State  of  North  Carolina 

Executive  Department 

Raleigh 

A  Proclamation  by  the  Governor 

Whereas  nearly  two-thirds  of  the  total  area  of  North  Carolina  is  now  cov- 
ered by  forest  growth,  the  greater  part  of  which  has  been  cut  over  by  lumbermen 
and  devastated  by  fire  to  such  an  extent  that  its  annual  yield  is  less  than  one-half 
what  it  should  be;  and 

Whereas  the  soil  is  the  material  source  of  our  strength  and  upon  its  right  use 
depends  the  permanent  prosperity  of  our  State;  and 

Whereas  the  present  generation  is  coming  to  realize  that  the  use  of  the  forest 
and  the  soil  has  not  been  in  accordance  with  proper  economy,  inasmuch  as  forests 
have  been  destroyed  by  axe  and  fire,  steep  lands  have  been  cleared  and  unwisely 
used  and  ruinously  cultivated;  and 

Whereas  the  coming  generation  of  forest  and  soil  users  is  now  in  our  public 
schools;  and  upon  the  school  children  of  the  State  is  to  fall  the  task  of  repairing 
the  loss  caused  by  our  carelessness  or  indifference;  and 

Whereas  the  General  Assembly  of  this  State  has  seen  fit  to  enact  an  Arbor 
Day  Law  : 

Now,  therefore,  I,  Locke  Craig,  Governor  of  the  State  of  North  Carolina, 
realizing  the  value  which  the  suitable  observance  of  this  day  will  be  to  the  State  in 
interesting  the  rising  generation  in  a  proper  appreciation  of  our  forests,  our  birds, 
our  trees  and  our  shrubs,  do  hereby  proclaim  that  Friday,  the  5th  day  of  Novem- 
ber, 1915,  shall  be  appropriately  observed  as  Arbor  Day  by  the  teachers  and  chil- 
dren of  all  the  public  schools  of  the  State  by  recitations,  drills,  songs,  and  exer- 
cises appropriate  to  the  occasion,  and  by  the  planting  of  trees  and  shrubs  on  the 
school  grounds. 

Let  this  be  done  that  the  purpose  of  Arbor  Day  may  be  imbued  upon  us  and 
upon  the  youth,  and  interest  awakened  in  a  subject  the  consideration  of  which  will 
add  to  our  general  prosperity  and  the  future  wealth  of  North  Carolina,  and  will 
greatly  add  to  the  happiness  of  us  and  our  children. 

Done  at  our  City  of  Raleigh,  this  the  thirteenth  day  of  September,  in 
[great     the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  nine  hundred  and  fifteen  and  in  the 
seal]     one  hundred  and  fortieth  year  of  our  American  independence. 

Locke  Craig, 
By  the  Governor :  Governor. 

Jno.  P.  Kerr, 

Private  Secretary. 


PROCLAMATIONS  BY  THE  GOVERNOR  139 

(4) 
FIRE  PREVENTION  DAY 

State  of  North  Carolina 

Executive  Department 

Raleigh 

A  Proclamation  by  the  Governor 

The  General  Assembly  of  1915  amended  the  insurance  laws  of  North  Carolina, 
and  among  other  things  enacted : 

"It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Insurance  Commissioner  and  Superintendent  of 
Public  Instruction  to  provide,  as  far  as  practicable,  for  the  teaching  of  Tire  Pre- 
vention' in  the  colleges  and  schools  of  the  State,  and,  if  the  way  be  open,  to 
arrange  for  a  text-book  adapted  to  such  use.  Also  by  adding  to  said  section  as 
section  4721  (b)  the  following:  'The  9th  day  of  October  of  each  and  every  year 
shall  be  set  aside  and  designated  as  Pire  Prevention  Day,  and  the  Governor  shall 
issue  a  proclamation  urging  the  people  to  a  proper  observance  of  the  said  day, 
and  the  Insurance  Commissioner  shall  bring  the  day  and  its  observance  to  the 
attention  of  the  officials  of  the  municipalities  of  the  State,  and  especially  to  the 
firemen,  and  where  possible  arrange  suitable  programs  to  be  followed  in  its  observ- 
ance.' " 

Now,  therefore,  I,  Locke  Craig,  Governor  of  North  Carolina,  in  accordance 
with  this  statute,  do  issue  this  my  proclamation,  and  I  do  set  aside  and  designate 
Saturday,  the  9th  day  of  October,  1915,  as  Fire  Prevention  Day,  and  do  urge 
all  the  people  to  a  proper  observance  of  this  day  in  obedience  to  the  law  of  North 
Carolina.  I  urge  the  public  schools  of  the  State,  and  the  municipal  officers  thereof, 
to  give  proper  and  formal  recognition  of  the  day  and  its  meaning,  and  request  the 
citizens  generally  to  give  special  attention  on  that  day  to  the  condition  of  their 
premises,  to  the  end  that  the  waste  and  loss  of  property  and  life  by  fire  may  be 
reduced  in  this  State. 

The  loss  by  fire  amounts  approximately  to  three  million  dollars  a  year  in 
North  Carolina.  A  large  per  cent  of  this  loss  is  unnecessary  and  can  be  pre- 
vented.    Human  life,  too,  is  needlessly  sacrificed. 

We  should  remedy  the  conditions  that  entail  this  enormous  expense  and  loss 
suffered  not  only  by  those  whose  property  and  lives  are  destroyed,  but  by  all 
citizens  in  the  high  rates  of  insurance  caused  by  unnecessary  fires.  The  preven- 
tion of  the  needless  destruction  of  the  fruits  of  our  labor,  and  of  human  life,  is  a 
duty  dictated  by  economy  and  humanity. 

Done  at  our  city  of  Raleigh,  this  the  sixteenth  day  of  September,  in 
[great     the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  nine  hundred  and  fifteen,  and  in  the 
seal]      one  hundred  and  fortieth  year  of  our  American  independence. 

Locke  Craig, 
By  the  Governor:  Governor. 

Jno.  P.  Kerr, 

Private  Secretary. 

Note.— The  same  proclamation  issued  for  October  9,  1916. 


140        LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

(5) 

RELIEF  OF  THE  BELGIANS 

State  op  North  Carolina 

Executive  Department 

Ealeigh 

A  Proclamation  by  the  Governor 

Whereas  deep  distress  and  misery  exists  in  Belgium  and  northern  France; 
three  millions  of  women  and  children  are  in  dire  need  of  food  and  clothing;  and 

We  have  already  given  generously  to  these  destitute  people,  but  there  yet  exists 
an  alarming  shortage  of  necessary  clothing;  and 

The  Commission  for  Belief  in  Belgium  has  been  and  now  is  engaged  in  fur- 
nishing clothing  and  food  to  the  destitute  inhabitants  in  Belgium  and  northern 
France,  by  and  with  the  approval  and  consent  of  the  civil  and  military  authorities 
of  Germany; 

The  great  humanitarian  work  of  that  Commission  is  strictly  neutral,  and  at 
the  request  of  Fresident  Woodrow  Wilson  many  of  our  foremost  citizens  of  the 
United  States  have  accepted  membership  on  the  Commission : 

]STow,  therefore,  I,  Locke  Craig,  Governor  of  North  Carolina,  respectfully  urge 
that  people  of  this  State  cooperate  with  the  Commission  for  Belief  in  Belgium  in 
its  efforts  to  clothe  these  unfortunates ;  and  to  this  end  I  do  hereby  designate  and 
set  apart  Tuesday,  the  7th  day  of  March,  1916,  as  Belgium  Day,  in  order  that 
the  attention  of  all  our  citizens  may  be  the  more  specifically  directed  to  this  relief 
work  and  give  them  an  opportunity  to  buy  a  yard  of  cloth  on  this  or  any  other 
day,  or  give  the  equivalent  thereof  in  money  to  be  expended  in  the  purchase  of 
clothing  for  the  destitute  in  Belgium  and  northern  France  while  winter  is  upon 
them  and  the  suffering  is  acute. 

Let  every  one  do  something  to  relieve  the  innocent  from  the  cruel  sufferings 
of  this  war. 

Done  at  our  city  of  Ealeigh,  this  the  twelfth  day  of  February,  in  the 
[great     year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  nine  hundred  and  sixteen,  and  in  the  one 
seal]     hundred  and  fortieth  year  of  our  American  independence. 

Locke  Craig, 
By  the  Governor:  Governor. 

Jno.  P.  Kerr, 

Private  Secretary. 


PROCLAMATIONS  BY  THE  GOVERNOR  141 

(6) 
JEWISH  RELIEF  DAY 

State  of  North  Carolina 

Executive  Department 

Raleigh 

A  Proclamation  by  the  Governor 

Nine  million  Jews  in  Europe  are  suffering  the  cruelties  of  war.  They  are 
enduring  hunger  and  the  cold  of  the  severe  winter.  They  are  not  responsible  for 
this  conflict  that  is  destroying  them.  In  their  distress  they  appeal  to  the  charity 
of  the  world. 

The  President  of  the  United  States  has  issued  his  proclamation  making  Thurs- 
day, the  27th  day  of  January,  Jewish  Relief  Day. 

In   accord  with  the   proclamation   of  the   President,   and   in   response  to   the 

generous  sentiments  of  the  people  of  North  Carolina,  I  do  hereby  designate  this 

day  as  Jewish  Relief  Day,  and  request  the  people  of  the  State  to  remember  the 

needy  Jews  in  this  time  of  our  prosperity,  and  to  contribute  according 

[great     to  their  means  toward  the  alleviation  of  the  condition  of  these  oppressed 

seal]     people.  LoCKE  CeaiG; 

Governor. 
By  the  Governor : 

Jno.  P.  Keek, 

Private  Secretary. 


(7) 
THANKSGIVING  DAY,  1913 

State  of  North  Carolina 

Executive  Department 

Raleigh 

A  Proclamation  by  the  Governor 

After  the  harvest  is  the  day  of  Thanksgiving.  Toil  has  been  rewarded  in 
manifold  abundance;  the  Nation  triumphs  in  progress  and  power.  An  altruistic 
awakening  has  quickened  the  conscience  of  our  time;  it  has  commanded  the  men 
in  high  places  to  nobler  conceptions  of  public  duty,  and  inspired  the  people  with 
the  hope  and  determination  for  advancement. 

Therefore,  I,  Locke  Craig,  Governor  of  the  State  of  North  Carolina,  in  obe- 
dience to  the  custom  established  by  our  fathers,  and  in  accordance  with  the  procla- 
mation of  the  President  of  the  United  States,  do  proclaim  Thursday,  the  27th  day 
of  November,  a  holiday. 


142    LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

I  call  upon  all  the  people  to  do  no  work  upon  this  day;  to  make  this  a  day  of 
rest  and  rejoicing,  and,  in  reality,  a  day  of  Thanksgiving. 

I  earnestly  hope  that  the  day  •will  be  fully  observed  by  the  farmers,  merchants, 
mechanics,  manufacturers,  and  by  the  men,  women,  and  children  in  all  ranks  and 
occupations. 

I  call  upon  the  people  to  assemble  in  their  places  of  worship  that  they  may  in 
reverence  express  to  the  Almighty  their  gratitude  and  faith ;  that  human  sympa- 
thies may  be  enlarged  and  the  bonds  of  brotherhood  acknowledged  and  strengthened. 

Let  us  remember  the  poor  and  the  unfortunate,  and  realize  that  it  is  more 
blessed  to  give  than  to  receive. 

We  are  the  heirs  of  a  precious  heritage,  and  let  us  hope  and  strive  that  in  this 

commonwealth  righteousness  may  be  exalted,  and  that  to  all  men  may  come  a  full 

measure  of  justice,  which  is  "grander  than  benevolence,  more  august  than  charity." 

Done  in  our  city  of  Raleigh,  on  this  the  twelfth  day  of  November,  in 

[great     the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  nine  hundred  and  thirteen,  and  in  the 

seal]     one  hundred  and  thirty-eighth  year  of  our  American  independence. 

Locke  Craig, 
By  the  Governor:  Governor. 

Jno.  P.  Kerr, 

Private  Secretary. 


(8) 
THANKSGIVING  DAY,  1914 

State  or  ISTorth  Carolina 

Executive  Department 

Raleigh 

A  Proclamation  by  the  Governor 

Above  all  the  nations  we  have  been  blessed.  Throughout  the  wide  domain  of 
our  country  peace  presides — in  harvest  fields  and  in  teeming  cities.  Industry 
protected  and  encouraged  by  law  is  triumphant,  and  plenty  has  been  decreed  as 
the  reward  of  labor. 

The  destiny  of  the  Republic  is  unfolding  in  grander  revelation,  and  better 
opportunities  are  opening  to  all  her  citizens  in  this  day  of  altruistic  awakening. 
For  us  God  has  ordained  order,  and  will  ordain  righteousness,  that  from  material 
progress  there  shall  come  moral  progress  and  a  higher  social  development. 

America  is  more  than  ever  the  refuge  for  the  oppressed.  She  offers  to  the 
worthy,  stricken  people  of  Europe  homes  protected  from  the  ravages  of  war, 
where  life,  liberty  and  the  pursuit  of  happiness  are  guaranteed  to  all. 

In  the  countries  across  the  Atlantic  the  destruction  and  suffering  and  sorrow 
of  war  are  supreme.  In  Europe,  Asia,  and  Africa  fire  and  sword  constitute  the 
rule,  and  death  and  desolation  reign  in  the  seats  of  the  fairest  civilizations.  As 
of  old,  in  Ramah  Rachel  weeps  for  her  children,  and  cannot  be  comforted. 


PROCLAMATIONS  BY  TEE  GOVERNOR  143 

Now,  therefore,  I,  Locke  Craig,  Governor  of  the  State  of  North  Carolina,  in 
ohedience  to  the  custom  established  by  our  fathers,  and  in  accordance  with  the 
proclamation  of  the  President  of  the  United  States,  do  proclaim  Thursday,  the 
26th  day  of  November,  a  day  of  Thanksgiving  and  Dedication. 

I  call  upon  all  people  to  observe  this  day,  to  assemble  in  their  usual  places  of 
worship,  and  in  reverence  to  give  thanks  to  the  Almighty  for  the  blessings  vouch- 
safed to  us,  and  to  pray  that  the  power  of  faith  and  righteousness  may  be  quick- 
ened in  this  land,  and  that  in  all  lands  the  reign  of  the  Prince  of  Peace  shall  be 
restored. 

I  call  the  people  to  the  realization  of  their  obligation  as  a  State  and  as  a 
Nation,  "To  purify  our  principles,  ennoble  our  national  ambitions,  to  make  this 
people  great  and  strong,  not  for  aggression  and  conquest,  but  for  th©  peace  of  the 
world,  giving  to  us  the  glorious  prerogative  of  leading  all  nations  to  juster  laws, 
to  more  humane  policies,  to  sincerer  friendship,  to  rational  constituted  civil 
liberty,  and  to  universal  Christian  Brotherhood,"  to  exemplify  the  strength  and 
beneficence  of  a  government  based  upon  moral  power  rather  than  military  force, 
and  to  send  this  message  of  God  to  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  earth  for  the  redemp- 
tion of  men. 

On  this  day  let  us  remember  our  poor  and  our  unfortunate,  for  it  is  more 
blessed  to  give  than  to  receive. 

And  I  do  further  call  upon  all  ministers  and  all  good  people  that  on  Sunday, 
the  29th,  it  being  the  Sunday  after  Thanksgiving  Day,  they  contribute  to  the 
relief  of  the  millions  of  innocent  and  industrious  people  in  other  lands  who  are 
suffering  and  dying,  not  for  any  wrong  done  by  them,  but  because  their  homes  and 
fields  have  been  destroyed  by  armies,  and  their  defenders  slain.  This  is  the  obli- 
gation and  the  exalted  privilege  of  our  great  and  prosperous  nation. 

And  in  this  holiday  season  and  approaching  Christmas  time  let  us,  in  humility, 
make  some  sacrifice  in  answer  to  the  far-sounding  cry  for  help  in  obedience  to  a 
sympathy  as  wide  as  the  world,  as  deep  as  humanity. 

Done  in  our  city  of  Ealeigh,  on  this  the  twelfth  day  of  November,  in 
[geeat     the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  nine  hundred  and  fourteen,  and  in  the 
seax]     one  hundred  and  thirty-ninth  year  of  our  American  independence. 

Locke  Craig, 
By  the  Governor:  Governor. 

Jno.  P.  Keee, 

Private  Secretary. 


144   LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

(9) 

THANKSGIVING  DAY,  1915 

State  of  North  Carolina 

Executive  Department 

Raleigh 

A  Proclamation  by  the  Governor 

The  earth  yields  another  harvest.  Plenty  rewards  toil.  On  field  and  city 
Peace  pronounces  its  benediction  and  Industry  is  victorious.  Opportunities  in- 
crease with  progress.  The  quickened  conscience  of  the  time  demands  and  creates 
conditions  that  stimulate  and  respond  to  aspirations  for  ampler  and  stronger  life. 
The  State  is  buoyant  with  hope,  and  looks  forward  with  ennobling  faith  to  greater 
achievement.  Ours  is  the  land  of  inexhaustible  power,  where  honest  effort  is 
encouraged,  and  where  the  rights  of  men  in  all  ranks  of  society  are  recognized  and 
protected  further  than  in  any  other  land. 

Wow,  therefore,  I,  Locke  Craig,  Governor  of  the  State  of  North  Carolina,  in 
obedience  to  the  custom  established  by  our  fathers,  and  in  accord  with  the  procla- 
mation of  the  President  of  the  United  States,  do  proclaim  Thursday,  the  25th 
day  of  November,  a  day  of  Thanksgiving. 

I  call  upon  all  the  people  to  observe  this  day  by  assembling  in  their  usual 
places  of  worship  to  pray  for  strength  and  guidance,  and  to  give  thanks  to  the 
Almighty  for  His  blessings,  and  for  the  glorious  opportunities  granted  to  us 
above  all  people. 

According  to  our  means  we  must  provide  for  the  fatherless  children  and 
widows,  and  all  who  are  desolate  and  oppressed,  for  if  we  do  not  we  are  unworthy 
of  our  own  good  fortune. 

Let  us  on  this  day  dedicate  ourselves  with  renewed  energy  to  the  work  laid  off 
to  each  of  us,  and  call  ourselves  to  the  realization  of  our  obligations  as  neighbors 
and  citizens  that  we  may  strive  with  faith  and  earnestness  for  the  higher  social 
order,  whose  law  is  perfect  justice.  Let  us  in  humility  and  gratitude  remember 
that  we  have  been  spared  while  the  world  is  consumed  by  war.  We  should  pray 
that  to  lands  now  stricken  by  desolation  and  death,  the  beneficence  of  Peace  may 
be  restored,  and  the  power  of  Righteousness  exalted  in  all  the  earth. 

Done  in  our  city  of  Raleigh,  on  this  the  twelfth  day  of  November, 
[great     in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  nine  hundred  and  fifteen,  and  in 
seal]     the  one  hundred  and  fortieth  year  of  our  American  independence. 

Locke  Craig, 
By  the  Governor :  Governor. 

Jno.  P.  Kerr, 

Private  Secretary. 


PROCLAMATIONS  BY  THE  GOVERNOR  145 

(10) 

THANKSGIVING  DAY,  1916 

State  of  North  Carolina 

Governor's  Office 

Raleigh 

A  Proclamation  by  the  Governor 

The  seed  fell  upon  good  ground.  The  harvest  is  plenteous.  In  the  marts  of 
commerce,  in  field  and  in  factory,  industry  has  been  rewarded  with  a  hountiful 
hand.  A  prosperity  never  known  hefore  has  come  to  all  conditions  and  classes  of 
men.  Our  material  achievement  leads  to  social  advancement,  and  a  higher  social 
order.  Altruism  is  militant  for  the  universal  welfare.  Our  Government  is  con- 
trolled by  a  noble  purpose,  and  is  responsive  to  the  demands  of  the  age.  As  never 
in  any  country,  nor  in  any  age,  has  equity  to  all  men  been  remembered  in  the 
highest  place  of  authority.  Opportunity  has  been  vouchsafed  greater  than  ever 
before,  and  to  the  genius  and  energy  of  the  American  people  the  future  unfolds 
in  sublime  revelation. 

In  wealth,  in  progress,  in  freedom  and  hope  to  the  people,  our  Republic  is  the 
first  of  all  nations.  She  has  vindicated  the  rights  of  her  citizens  in  every  land, 
and  has  maintained  the  law  of  civilization  and  humanity  upon  the  seas. 

In  diplomacy  and  in  dealings  with  all  nations,  great  and  small,  she  has  been 
firm,  considerate,  and  just ;  the  simple  rule  of  right  is  the  standard  that  she  has 
set  and  steadfastly  maintained.  Her  demands  have  been  conceded,  and  her  rights 
have  been  respected  when  armed  nations  are  ravaged  by  war. 

Above  all,  we  have  peace.  While  the  earth  has  been  consumed  by  the  confla- 
gration of  desolation,  while  ghastly  War  still  strikes  with  unabated  fury  and 
reaps  his  boundless  harvest  of  death  and  woe,  we  have  been  spared  to  work  out 
the  high  purpose  of  God. 

Wow,  therefore,  I,  Locke  Craig,  Governor  of  the  State  of  North  Carolina,  in 
obedience  to  the  custom  established  by  our  fathers,  and  in  accord  with  the  procla- 
mation of  the  President  of  the  United  States,  do  proclaim  Thursday,  the  30th 
day  of  November,  a  day  of  Thanksgiving. 

And  I  do  call  upon  the  people  of  North  Carolina  to  meet  on  that  day  in  their 
places  of  worship  and  in  devout  gratitude  and  humility  remember  our  abundant 
blessings. 

And  let  us  pray  that  the  power  of  truth  may  be  quickened  and  our  consciences 
awakened  to  know  and  to  do  the  will  of  our  Father,  that  his  Kingdom  may  come 
upon  earth;  that  peace  may  be  restored  to  all  the  world;  that  the  Light  and  the 
spirit  of  the  Prince  of  Peace  may  come  again  to  the  peoples  who  drink  the  cup 
of  trembling  in  the  horror  of  great  darkness. 

Let  us  not  forget  our  neighbors,  and  the  people  of  our  State  who  may  be 
humble  and  in  need,  nor  the  widow  and  the  orphan  in  distress,  nor  those  who 
have  been  overtaken  by  disaster.  May  our  sympathies  be  broadened  and  strength- 
ened that  we  may  grow  in  the  grace  of  charity  and  toward  the  realization  of  the 
brotherhood  of  men. 

10 


146    LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

On  this  day  let  our  gifts  be  generous  in  accordance  with  our  good  fortune,  and 
let  us  beseech  Almighty  God  to  give  us  that  due  sense  of  all  his  mercies  that  our 
hearts  may  be  unfeignedly  thankful,  and  that  we  show  forth  his  praise  not  only 
with  our  lips  but  in  our  lives,  by  giving  up  ourselves  to  his  service,  and  by  walk- 
ing before  him  in  holiness  and  righteousness  all  our  days. 

Done  in  our  city  of  Raleigh,  on  this  the  twentieth  day  of  November, 
[great     in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  nine  hundred  and  sixteen,  and  in 
seal]     the  one  hundred  and  forty-first  year  of  our  American  independence. 

Locke  Craig, 
By  the  Governor:  Governor. 

May  F.  Jones, 

Private  Secretary. 


(11) 
ELECTION  OF  PRESIDENTIAL  ELECTORS 

State  of  North  Carolina 

Governor's  Office 

Raleigh 

A  Proclamation  by  the  Governor 

I,  Locke  Craig,  Governor  of  North  Carolina,  do  hereby  make  proclamation 
and  declare  the  following  named  persons  duly  elected  as  electors  to  vote  for  the 
President  and  Vice-President  of  the  United  States : 

Cameron  Morrison  of  the  Ninth  Congressional  District. 

N.  A.  Sinclair  of  the  Sixth  Congressional  District. 

H.  C.  Carter,  Jr.,  of  the  First  Congressional  District. 

G.  V.  Cowper  of  the  Second  Congressional  District. 

D.  E.  Henderson  of  the  Third  Congressional  District. 

T.  T.  Thorne  of  the  Fourth  Congressional  District. 

Thomas  J.  Gold  of  the  Fifth  Congressional  District. 

J.  Bayard  Clark  of  the  Sixth  Congressional  District. 

Thomas  B.  Finley  of  the  Seventh  Congressional  District. 

Mark  Squires  of  the  Eighth  Congressional  District. 

"W.  M.  Wilson  of  the  Ninth  Congressional  District. 

Felix  E.  Alley  of  the  Tenth  Congressional  District. 
And  each  of  said  electors  is  hereby  notified  to  attend  at  the  Capitol,  in  the  city 
of  Raleigh,  at  noon,  on  the  second  Monday  in  January,  1917,  it  being  the  8th  day 
of  January,  1917,  and  proceed  with  the  discharge  of  their  duties  as  by  law  directed. 
In  witness   whereof,   I,   Locke   Craig,   Governor  of  North   Carolina, 
[great     have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  caused  the  Great  Seal  of  the  State  to  be 
seal]     affixed,  this  the  fourth  day  of  December,  1916.  Locke  Craig 

By  the  Governor:  Governor. 

Mat  F.  Jones, 

Private  Secretary. 


(IV) 
HIGHWAYS 


HIGHWAYS 

1.  Federal  aid  for  construction  of  Experimental  Postal  Roads. 

2.  Old  Fort  Highway. 

3.  Miscellaneous  correspondence  in  regard  to  obtaining  Federal 

aid  for  Davidson  and  Davie  counties. 

4.  Appointment  of  commissioners  for  various  townships  in  Mc- 

Dowell County. 


(1) 

FEDERAL  AID  FOR  CONSTRUCTION  OF  EXPERLMENTAL 
POSTAL  ROADS 

Office  of  the  Postmaster  General 
"Washington,  D.  C. 

January  21,  1913. 
Hon.  Locke  Craig, 

Governor  of  the  State  of  North  Carolina, 
Raleigh,  North  Carolina. 
My  dear  Governor  : — Inclosed  is  a  copy  of  a  communication  sent  to  former 
Governor  Kitchin  under  date  of  November  20,  1912,  relative  to  the  improvement 
of  roads  in  your  State  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  contained  in  the  last 
postal  appropriation  bill.  A  reply  to  this  communication  was  received  from 
Governor  Kitchin  dated  November  26th  last  to  the  effect  that  the  matter  referred 
to  would  receive  consideration,  but  since  that  date  nothing  further  in  regard  to  it 
has  reached  this  Department. 

As  you  have  now  succeeded  to  the  Governorship,  the  offer  of  Federal  aid  in 
road  improvement  is  brought  to  your  attention  for  appropriate  consideration  and 
action.  .  Yours  very  truly, 

Frank  H.  Hitchcock, 

Postmaster  General. 

Post  Office  Department 

Fourth  Assistant  Postmaster  General 

Washington 

April  30,  1913. 
Hon.  Locke  Craig, 

Governor  of  the  State  of  North  Carolina, 
Raleigh,  North  Carolina. 

My  dear  Sir  : — With  reference  to  your  communication  of  the  28th  instant, 
which  the  Postmaster  General  has  referred  to  me  for  special  attention,  I  beg  to 
state  that  the  results  secured  from  the  plan  adopted  some  months  ago  were  so 
unsatisfactory  that  it  was  deemed  necessary  to  make  other  arrangements  in  this 
regard.  These  arrangements,  which  have  been  approved  by  the  Postmaster  Gen- 
eral and  the  Secretary  of  Agriculture,  contemplated  the  withdrawal  of  the  offer  to 
all  States  that  had  not  met  the  requirements  on  April  21,  1913,  and  a  letter  was 
addressed  to  you  under  date  of  the  26th  instant,  advising  you  definitely  to  this 
effect.  Yours  very  truly, 

Jas.  I.  Blakslee, 
Fourth  Assistant  Postmaster  General. 


150   LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OP  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

State  of  North  Carolina 
Executive  Department 
Raleigh 
Hon.  A.  S.  Burleson,  May  1,  1913. 

Postmaster  General, 

Washington,  D.  C. 
My  dear  Sir: — I  have  just  received  your  letter  of  April  26tli.  I  inclose  a 
copy  of  two  letters  which  I  have  received  from  Postmaster  General  Hitchcock; 
one  dated  January  21,  1913,  the  other  dated  February  6,  1913.  From  the  copy 
of  the  letter  to  Governor  W.  W.  Kitchin  referred  to  in  the  letter  of  January  21st, 
I  make  the  following  quotation : 

"If  you  will  cause  to  be  selected  in  your  State  a  suitable  road  about  fifty 
miles  long  over  the  entire  length  of  which  there  is  delivery  of  mail  by  rural 
carriers  and  will  arrange  to  have  $20,000  raised  by  the  State  or  local  sub- 
divisions thereof,  in  accordance  with  the  requirements  of  the  law,  the  Gov- 
ernment will  set  aside  $10,000  additional  from  the  appropriation  granted  by 
Congress  and  will  expend  the  sum  of  $30,000  thus  provided,  or  so  much  of  it 
as  seems  wise,  for  the  improvement  and  maintenance  of  the  road  selected." 

In  consideration  of  this  correspondence  between  this  office  and  the  Postmaster 
General,  and  relying  upon  the  promises  of  the  Federal  Government,  I  secured  the 
passage  of  an  act  by  our  General  Assembly  looking  to  the  raising  of  the  $20,000. 

An  election  is  to  be  held  within  a  few  days  in  Old  Fort  Township,  in  the 
county  of  McDowell,  for  the  purpose  of  raising  the  $20,000  mentioned  in  the 
correspondence.  The  road  designated  by  me,  in  accordance  with  the  instructions 
of  the  Postmaster  General,  is  located  in  the  county  of  McDowell.  The  people  of 
McDowell  and  that  section  of  the  State  have  gone  to  considerable  trouble  and 
expense  for  the  holding  of  this  election.  The  failure  of  the  Government  now  to 
furnish  the  $10,000  will  be  a  great  disappointment  to  them.  Relying  upon  the 
statements  of  the  Postmaster  General,  I  assured  them  that  the  $10,000  would  be 
furnished  by  the  Federal  Government  if  they  would  provide  the  $20,000. 

Will  you  be  kind  enough  to  write  me  definitely  if  these  people  can  rely  upon 
any  aid  from  the  Federal  Government?  Yours  truly, 

Locke  Craig, 

Governor. 

Office  of  the  Postmaster  General 
Washington,  D.  C. 

May  3,  1913. 
Hon.  Locke  Craig, 

Governor  of  the  State  of  North  Carolina, 
Raleigh,  North  Carolina. 
Sir  : — I  beg  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  communication  of  the  1st 
instant,  in  which  you  state  that,  relying  on  the  offer  of  Federal  aid  in  the  improve- 
ment of  highways  in  North  Carolina  contained  in  the  joint  letter  addressed  by  the 
Postmaster  General  and  the  Secretary  of  Agriculture  under  date  of  November  20, 
1912,  you  secured  the  passage  of  an  act  by  the  General  Assembly  authorizing  the 


HIGHWAYS  151 

authorities  of  McDowell  County  to  hold  an  election  for  the  purpose  of  raising  the 
amount  of  the  required  local  guarantee,  and  that  all  arrangements  have  been  made 
for  holding  the  election  at  an  early  date. 

In  reply  I  beg  to  inform  you  that,  in  view  of  your  statements  in  the  premises, 
the  offer  of  Federal  aid  heretofore  withdrawn  from  the  State  of  North  Carolina 
is  hereby  renewed  upon  the  condition  that  you  inform  this  Department  imme- 
diately of  the  road  selected  by  you  for  improvement  and  give  satisfactory  assur- 
ance that  the  full  amount  of  the  required  local  guarantee  will  be  available  within 
a  few  days.  Eespectfully,  A_  g_  BuRLES0N; 

Postmaster  General. 


Office  of  the  Postmaster  General 
"Washington,  D.  C. 

Hon.  Locke  Craig,  May  7,  1913. 

Governor  of  the  State  of  North  Carolina, 
Raleigh,  North  Carolina. 
Sir: — The  postal  appropriation  act  for  the  current  fiscal  year  contains  the 
following  provision : 

"That  there  is  hereby  appropriated  the  sum  of  five  hundred  thousand 
dollars,  out  of  any  money  in  the  Treasury  not  otherwise  appropriated,  to  be 
expended  by  the  Secretary  of  Agriculture  in  cooperation  with  the  Post- 
master General  in  improving  the  condition  of  roads  to  be  selected  by  them 
over  which  rural  delivery  is  or  may  hereafter  be  established,  such  improve- 
ment to  be  for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining  the  increase  in  the  territory 
which  could  be  served  by  each  carrier  as  a  result  of  such  improvement,  the 
possible  increase  of  the  number  of  delivery  days  in  each  year,  the  amount 
required  in  excess  of  local  expenditures  for  the  proper  maintenance  of  such 
roads,  and  the  relative  saving  to  the  Government  in  the  operation  of  the 
Rural  Delivery  Service,  and  to  the  local  inhabitants,  in  the  transmission 
of  their  report  the  results  in  detail  to  Congress:  Provided,  That  the  State 
or  the  local  subdivision  thereof  in  which  such  improvement  is  made  under 
this  provision  shall  furnish  double  the  amount  of  money  for  the  improve- 
ment of  the  road  or  roads  so  selected.  Such  improvement  shall  be  made 
under  the  supervision  of  the  Secretary  of  Agriculture." 

It  has  been  determined  to  submit  the  following  proposal  for  your  consideration 
and  for  our  further  joint  action : 

Would  the  State  of  North  Carolina  care  to  consider  a  proposal  to  furnish 
double  the  amount  of  an  allotment  of  not  more  than  $40,000  toward  the  improve- 
ment or  construction  of  roads  on  which  one  or  more  rural  delivery  routes  are  in 
operation ?     (The  requirement  last  mentioned  is  fixed  by  law  and  cannot  be  waived.) 

It  would  seem  advisable  to  undertake  the  work  on  an  unimproved  road  located 
in  a  section  of  the  State  where  good  roads  are  most  needed  and  where  the  informa- 
tion called  for  by  the  act  of  Congress  could  be  most  readily  secured. 

If  your  State  desires  to  participate  in  this  cooperative  movement,  it  is  the 
hope  of  the  Department  that  you  will  select  a  road  traveled  by  rural  carriers  that 
connects  with  an  improved  road  starting  from  a  city  of  some  size.  This  mi°ht 
enable  the  Department  materially  to  lengthen  the  rural  route  or  routes  and  thus 


152   LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

effect  a  closer  linking  of  the  producer  and  the  consumer  by  giving  a  greater  extent 
of  rural  territory  the  benefit  of  the  comparatively  low  parcel  post  local  rate  of 
postage. 

My  inquiries  summarized  are  (1)  whether  the  State  desires  to  participate 
further  in  this  cooperative  undertaking,  the  State  to  contribute  $80,000  and  the 
Government  $40,000;  (2)  if  so,  whether  the  State's  contribution  would  be  imme- 
diately available,  and,  if  the  reply  to  the  first  two  inquiries  is  in  the  affirmative, 
(3)  whether  you  will  select,  or  cause  to  be  selected,  a  road  or  roads  that  will 
apparently  meet  the  requirements  of  the  law  and  serve  the  desired  purpose. 

In  the  event  that  you  decide  to  enter  into  this  undertaking,  after  you  have 
made  your  selection  of  a  road  to  be  improved  or  constructed  an  experienced  road 
engineer  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture  would  be  directed  to  make  an  inspection 
of  the  road  and  prepare  detailed  plans  for  beginning  the  work.  The  actual  work 
of  improvement  or  construction  would  be  done  under  the  direction  of  the  engineers 
of  the  Office  of  Public  Roads,  Department  of  Agriculture,  who  would  at  all  times 
cooperate  in  every  possible  manner  with  the  officers  of  your  State  Highway  Com- 
mission. 

It  is  not  intended  that  this  letter  shall  be  construed  as  a  definite  assurance 
that  if  this  proposal  appeals  to  you  favorably  the  Government  will  make  its  allot- 
ment of  funds  and  proceed  with  the  work.  The  offer  is  made  in  a  tentative  form 
only,  and  is  for  the  purpose  of  securing  necessary  preliminary  information,  sub- 
stantially identical  letters  having  been  addressed  to  the  Governors  of  a  number 
of  other  States. 

I  request  to  be  favored  with  a  prompt  reply,  as  it  is  now  the  most  favorable 
season  for  highway  improvement,  and  the  work,  if  undertaken  in  the  State  of 
North  Carolina,  should  be  started  at  the  earliest  practicable  date. 

Respectfully, 

A.  S.  Burleson, 
Postmaster  General. 

State  of  North  Carolina 
Executive  Department 
Raleigh 
Hon.  A.  S.  Burleson,  May  14,  1913. 

Postmaster  General, 

Washington,  D.  C. 
My  dear  Sir  : — Answering  your  letter  of  May  7th,  I  will  say : 

(1)  The  State  of  North  Carolina  desires  to  participate  in  the  cooperative 
undertaking  of  building  of  public  roads,  the  State  to  contribute  the  sum  of  $S0,000 
and  the  Government  $40,000. 

(2)  The  State's  contribution  is  immediately  available. 

(3)  I  will  select,  or  cause  to  be  selected,  the  road  or  roads  that  will  meet  the 
requirements  of  the  letter  and  serve  the  desired  purpose. 

I  understand  that  your  letter  of  May  7th  submits  a  tentative  proposition. 
There  are  several  sections  of  North  Carolina  that  are  now  very  anxious  to  par- 
ticipate in  the  $40,000  appropriation  by  the  Federal  Government  on  the  terms 
proposed  by  your  letter.  Yours  very  truly, 

Locke  Craig, 

Governor. 


HIGHWAYS  153 

Post  Office  Department 

Fourth  Assistant  Postmaster  General 

Washington 

Hon.  Locke  Craig,  June  5,  1913. 

Governor  of  the  State  of  North  Carolina, 
Raleigh,  North  Carolina. 

Sir  : — With  reference  to  your  letter  of  May  14th,  accepting  the  tentative  offer 
of  an  allotment  of  not  to  exceed  $40,000  toward  the  improvement  or  construction 
of  highways  in  the  State  of  North  Carolina,  and  stating  that  the  State's  contri- 
bution is  immediately  available,  and  that  you  will  select,  or  cause  to  be  selected, 
a  road  or  roads  that  will  meet  the  requirements  of  the  Department,  and  that  there 
are  several  sections  of  North  Carolina  that  are  very  anxious  to  participate  in  the 
forty  thousand  dollar  allotment  by  the  Federal  Government,  I  apprehend  that  you 
may  not  fully  understand  the  requirements  of  the  Department,  under  which  the 
Federal  allotment  is  to  be  expended. 

In  suggesting  to  you  the  proposed  apportionment  of  $40,000,  it  was  contem- 
plated that  this  amount  and  the  $80,000  to  be  provided  by  the  State  of  North 
Carolina  would  be  used  in  the  improvement  or  construction  of  one  road  or  a  con- 
tinuous succession  of  roads,  fifty  or  more  miles  in  length,  on  which  one  or  more 
rural  delivery  routes  are  in  operation,  in  order  thereby,  not  only  to  extend,  if 
possible,  the  rural  delivery  service  on  such  roads  and  to  facilitate  and  increase 
the  delivery  and  collection  of  mail,  but  to  obtain  therefrom  complete  data  as  to 
the  cost  of  constructing  such  a  road,  the  kind  and  quantities  of  material  used,  and 
other  data  that  would  be  of  value  in  connection  with  the  construction  of  other 
roads  through  Federal  aid  in  territory  where  similar  topographic,  climatic  and 
other  conditions  exist. 

To  divide  the  Federal  allotment  and  the  State's  contribution  into  several  por- 
tions for  the  improvement  of  a  number  of  disconnected  roads  would  not  produce 
the  results  desired. 

It  is  desirable  that  you  indicate  to  the  Department  at  the  earliest  practicable 
date  the  road  which  you  desire  to  be  improved.  Consideration  of  the  matter  would 
be  greatly  expedited  if  you  would  cause  to  be  furnished  to  the  Department  a 
sketch,  drawing,  or  blue-print  of  the  road  which  you  may  recommend  to  be  im- 
proved. Eespectfully,  JAS.  I.  Blakslee, 

Fourth  Assistant  Postmaster  General. 

State  of  North  Carolina 
Executive  Department 
Ealeigh 
Hon.  Jas.  I.  Blakslee,  June  12,  1913. 

Fourth  Assistant  Postmaster  General, 
Washington,  D.  C. 
Dear  Sir  : — Eeferring  to  your  letter  of  June  5th  concerning  the  allotment  of 
$40,000  by  the  Government  to  this  State  for  good  road  improvement,  I  have  to 
say  that  Governor  Craig  has  been  compelled  to  leave  his  office  for  rest  and  recuper- 
ation, and  will  probably  not  be  in  his  office  before  about  July  1st. 

Very  truly  yours,  j0HN  p.  Xxim, 

Private  Secretary. 


154        LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

Post  Office  Department 

Fourth  Assistant  Postmaster  General 

Washington 

Hon.  Locke  Craig,  September  12,  1913. 

Governor  of  the  State  of  North  Carolina, 
Raleigh,  North  Carolina. 
My  Dear  Governor: — During  my  absence  from  the  city  yesterday  Mr.  Henry 
B.  Varner,  of  Lexington,  North  Carolina,  who  stated  that  he  represented  your 
desire  in  the  matter,  called  at  my  office  with  reference  to  the  expenditure  of  the 
balance  of  the  allotment  for  cooperative  road  improvement  which  has  tentatively 
been  made  to  the  State  of  North  Carolina.  Mr.  Varner  stated  that  it  was  your 
desire  that  this  balance  ($30,000)  be  divided  into  three  equal  portions  and  ex- 
pended in  three  counties  of  your  State  with  the  view  to  completing  as  far  as 
possible  the  road  known  as  the  Central  Highway  of  North  Carolina.  Assuming 
that  Mr.  Varner's  statements  represent  your  wishes  in  this  regard,  and  in  view 
of  his  explanation  of  the  extreme  desirability  of  aiding  in  the  completion  of  this 
important  highway,  I  can  see  no  reason  why  the  remaining  $30,000  of  the  Federal 
allotment  should  not  be  apportioned  as  above  set  forth;  and  if  you  will  designate 
the  roads  on  which  you  believe  the  improvement  could  be  undertaken  to  the  best 
advantage,  I  will  request  that  inspections  of  them  be  made  as  promptly  as  pos- 
sible by  an  experienced  road  engineer  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture. 

Sincerely  yours, 

Jas.  I.  Blakslee, 
Fourth  Assistant  Postmaster  General. 


State  of  North  Carolina 
Executive  Department 
Baleigh 
Hon.  A.  S.  Burleson,  September  30,  1913. 

Postmaster  General, 

Washington,  D.  C. 
Dear  Sir  : — In  accordance  with  the  statute  and  ruling  of  the  Federal  Govern- 
ment authorizing  me  to  designate  roads  in  North  Carolina  on  which  $40,000  is 
to  be  expended,  which  amount  has  been  apportioned  to  North  Carolina,  I  desig- 
nate the  following  roads : 

1.  The  road  between  "Winston-Salem,  via  Mocksville  to  Statesville,  $20,000. 

2.  The  road  through  the  county  of  Davidson,  known  as  the  Central  Highway, 
$10,000. 

3.  The  road  from  Swannanoa  tunnel  in  the  Blue  Bidge,  leading  east  of  Marion, 
$10,000. 

I  suggest  $20,000  on  the  road  between  Winston-Salem,  via  Mocksville  to  States- 
ville, to  be  expended  as  follows : 

Eight  thousand  dollars  in  the  county  of  Davie,  of  which  Mocksville  is  the 
county  seat;  $6,000  in  the  county  of  Iredell,  of  which  Statesville  is  the  county 
seat,  and  $6,000  in  the  county  of  Forsyth,  of  which  Winston-Salem  in  the 
county  seat. 


HIGHWAYS  155 

All  of  these  roads  are  used  by  great  numbers  of  our  people  and  when  properly 
constructed  will  be  of  great  benefit  to  the  whole  State.  All  of  the  sections  through 
which  these  roads  pass  are  ready  to  comply  with  the  terms  under  which  the 
Government  appropriates  this  money.  Yours  truly, 

Locke   Craig, 

Governor. 

Post  Office  Department 

Fourth  Assistant  Postmaster  General 

Washington 

October  6,  1913. 
Hon.  Locke  Craig, 

Governor  of  the  State  of  North  Carolina, 
Raleigh,  North  Carolina, 
Sir  : — Your  communication  of  the  30th  ultimo,  designating  certain  roads  in 
North    Carolina   for   improvement   under   the   cooperative   project    authorized   by 
Congress,  has  been  referred  to  me  by  the  Postmaster  General  for  special  attention. 
It  is  noted  that  you  designate  three  stretches  of  highway  and  request  that  an 
allotment  of  $40,000  be  made  for  the  proposed  improvements.     The  sum  of  $40,000 
is  the  amount  allotted  to  the  State  of  North  Carolina,  but  $10,000  of  this  sum 
has  already  been  set  aside,  as  suggested  in  your  communication  of  May  1st  last 
for  the  improvement  of  a  road  in  Old  Fort  Township,  McDowell   County,  thus 
leaving  a  balance  of  $30,000.     I  should  be  pleased  if  you  would  advise  me  as 
promptly  and  as  much  in  detail  as  possible  of  the  roads  on  which  you  recommend 
that  this  sum  of  $30,000  be  expended.     If  possible,  please  indicate  the  termini  of 
the  highways  and  the  towns  through  which  the  improved  road  would  pass. 

Respectfully, 

J  as.  I.  Blakslee, 
Fourth  Assistant  Postmaster  General. 


State  of  North  Carolina 

Executive  Department 

Ealeigh 

October  9,  1913. 
Mr.  James  I.  Blakslee, 

Fourth  Assistant  Postmaster  General, 
Washington,  D.  C. 
Mt  dear  Sir  : — In  accordance  with  your  letter  of  October  6th  I  have  requested 
Mr.  P.  H.  Hanes  of  Winston-Salem  and  Mr.  BE.  B.  Varner,  of  Lexington,  North 
Carolina,  to  give  you  a  full  description  of  the  roads  designated  by  me  upon  which 
the  money  appropriated  by  the  Government  is  to  be  expended. 

Yours  truly, 

Locke   Craig, 

Governor. 


156        LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIO 

(2) 
OLD  FORT  HIGHWAY 

Hon.  P.  H.  Mashbuen,  Asheville,  1ST.  O,  July  3,  1914. 

Old  Fort,  N.  0. 

My  dear  Sib: — According  to  my  information  the  road  commissioners  of  Old 
Fort  contemplate  using  the  road  money  to  build  the  road  from  Old  Fort  to  Greenlee, 
and  if  any  of  the  money  be  left,  to  use  this  balance  on  the  road  from  Old  Fort 
to  Henry. 

In  my  judgment  this  would  be  a  decided  mistake. 

If  you  build  the  road  across  the  mountain,  the  Central  Highway  will  then 
be  opened  from  Morehead  City  to  Asheville,  and  thousands  of  automobiles  will 
pass  through  Old  Fort.  Every  one  of  them  will  stop;  some  will  stay  a  few  hours; 
some  a  few  days  and  as  soon  as  you  have  sufficient  accommodations  at  Old  Fort, 
they  will  stay  for  weeks.  The  road  from  Old  Fort  to  Greenlee  is  purely  local, 
and  while  it  will  be  of  immediate  benefit  to  the  people  living  in  that  section,  it 
will  not  result  in  the  development  of  your  community  that  would  come  from  the 
opening  of  the  Central  Highway.  I  would  never  have  designated  the  road  from 
Old  Fort  to  Greenlee  for  the  $10,000  of  Government  money,  for  the  reason  that 
this  road  is  local,  and  the  road  from  Old  Fort  to  Ridgecrest  is  a  principal  and 
indispensable  part  of  the  trunk  line.  If  you  build  the  road  from  Old  Fort  to 
Ridgecrest,  the  improvement  of  the  other  road  will  necessarily  follow.  I  am 
interested  for  the  reason  that  I  wish  the  money  to  be  used  for  the  greatest  benefit 
to  your  section,  and  for  the  people  of  the  State  generally. 

You  doubtless  recollect  that,  in  my  speech  at  Old  Fort,  I  contended  that  the 
greatest  benefit  would  come  to  Old  Fort  from  the  building  of  the  road  across  the 
mountain.     So  far  as  I  know  this  was  the  reason  always  given  for  the  bond  issue. 

I  think  that  if  you  will  consider  the  larger  welfare  that  would  come  to  the 
whole  community,  you  would  decide  to  build  this  road  from  Old  Fort  to  Ridge- 
crest. If  the  road  is  not  built  now,  when  this  government  money  is  available, 
there  is  no  telling  when  it  will  be  built.    I  fear  that  the  mistake  would  be  serious. 

Please  remember  me  to  Mrs.  Mashburn. 

With  the  highest  regards,  Yours  sincerely, 

Locke    Craig, 

Governor. 

State  of  North  Carolina 

Executive  Department 

Raleigh 

Hon.  L.  W.  Page,  July  16,  1914. 

Office  of  Public  Roads, 

Washington,  D.  C. 
My  dear  Sir: — I  understand  that  a  contract  is  about  to  be  made  between  the 
commissioners  of  Old  Fort  Township  and  the  authorities  of  the  Federal  Govern- 
ment, providing  for  the  building  of  the  road  between  Old  Henry  and  Greenlee 
in  McDowell  County.  In  my  opinion  the  contract  should  provide  for  the  road 
from  Swannanoa  Gap,  eastward  through  Old  Henry  to  Old  Fort  and  to  Greenlee, 


HIGHWAYS  157 

provided  the  funds  be  sufficient.  It  would  be  a  great  mistake  not  to  provide  for 
the  building  of  the  road  on  the  side  of  the  Blue  Ridge.  This  road  as  you  know, 
is  a  part  of  what  is  known  as  the  Central  Highway,  and  whenever  the  portion  over 
the  Blue  Eidge  shall  be  completed  all  other  links  in  the  Central  Highway  will 
be  assured  so  that  automobiles  can  pass  from  the  eastern  to  the  western  part  of 
the  State  across  the  mountains.  This  link  from  Old  Fort  to  Swannanoa  Gap, 
the  top  of  the  Blue  Bidge,  is  the  most  important  link  in  the  Central  Highway 
now  unprovided  for,  and  about  the  only  link  in  the  Central  Highway  that  is 
unprovided  for. 

I  would  never  have  designated  the  road  from  Henry  Station  to  Greenlee  for 
the  expenditure  of  ten  thousand  dollars  of  Government  money.  That  is  a  local 
road  for  a  small  community.  But  whenever  the  link  from  Old  Fort,  through 
Old  Henry  to  the  top  of  the  mountain  (Swannanoa  Gap)  is  completed,  the  whole 
road  at  once  becomes  a  through  highway  and  will  contribute  immensely  to  the 
advantage  of  Old  Fort  Township  and  of  the  whole  community. 

I  do  not  insist  that  the  road  on  the  side  of  the  Blue  Ridge  must  be  a  first- 
class  standard  highway,  but  I  do  earnestly  insist  that  it  should  be  provided  for 
in  the  contract.  The  road  for  the  expenditure  of  this  Government  money  should 
be  useful  to  the  community,  but  in  my  opinion  no  purely  local  road  should  be 
designated  for  the  expenditure  of  this  money. 

Yours  very  truly, 

Locke   Craig, 

Governor. 

United  States  Department  of  Agriculture 

Office  of  Public  Roads 

Washington,  D.  C. 

July  17,  1914. 
Hon.  Locke  Craig, 

Governor  of  the  State  of  North  Carolina, 
Raleigh,  North  Carolina. 
Dear  Sir: — Your  letter  of  July  16,  relative  to  the  post  road  in  Old  Fort  Town- 
ship, is  received. 

The  entire  road  from  Swannanoa  Gap  through  Old  Henry  and  Old  Fort  to 
Greenlee  Station,  is  a  part  of  the  Central  Highway.  None  of  it  is  a  good  road, 
and  the  section  which  is  impassable  for  automobiles  is  that  between  Old  Fort 
and  Old  Henry.  Many  more  people  live  along  the  road  from  Old  Henry  to  Green- 
lee Station  than  along  the  road  from  Old  Henry  to  Swannanoa  Gap,  and  will  be 
benefited  to  a  much  greater  extent  by  the  improvement  of  the  former  than  of  the 
latter,  and  we  can  more  nearly  comply  with  the  spirit  of  the  Act  of  Congress  by 
improving  the  former  than  the  latter. 

We  have  no  letter  from  you  indicating  that  the  road  should  begin  at  Swan- 
nanoa Gap  and  extend  to  Old  Fort  or  to  Greenlee  Station.  The  following  para- 
graph from  your  letter  to  the  Postmaster  General  of  May  1,  1913,  contains  the 
only  information  we  have  relative  to  your  designation  of  a  road  in  Old  Fort 
Township : 

"An  election  is  to  be  held  within  a  few  days  in  Old  Fort  Township,  in 
the  county  of  McDowell,  for  the  purpose  of  raising  the  ?20,000  mentioned 


158        LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

in  the  correspondence.  The  road  designated  by  me,  in  accordance  -with  the 
instructions  of  the  Postmaster  General,  is  located  in  the  county  of  McDowell. 
The  people  of  McDowell  and  that  section  of  the  State  have  gone  to  consider- 
able trouble  and  expense  for  the  holding  of  this  election.  The  failure  of  the 
Government  now  to  furnish  the  $10,000  will  be  a  gTeat  disappointment  to 
them.  Relying  upon  the  statements  of  the  Postmaster  General,  I  assured 
them  that  the  $10,000  would  be  furnished  by  the  Federal  Government  if 
they  would  provide  the  $20,000." 

The  election  of  which  you  speak  was  held  and  the  issue  of  bonds  to  the  amount 
of  $20,000  was  authorized.  In  the  election  for  the  bond  issue  the  people  of  the 
township  understood  that  the  section  from  Greenlee  Station  to  Old  Fort  would 
be  graveled  and  that  the  section  from  Old  Fort  to  Swannanoa  Gap  would  be 
graded. 

The  present  Township  Highway  Commission,  when  advised  that  sufficient 
funds  were  not  available  to  build  the  entire  road,  recommended  that  the  work  of 
construction  begin  at  Greenlee  Station  and  proceed  towards  Swannanoa  Gap  as 
far  as  available  funds  would  permit. 

Since  the  act  creating  the  Commission  gave  it  full  control  over  the  expendi- 
ture of  the  bond  issue  and  the  location  and  kind  of  road  that  should  be  built,  and 
since  we  believe  them  to  be  right,  plans  for  improving  the  road  from  Greenlee 
Station  to  Old  Henry  have  been  prepared,  approved  by  the  Old  Fort  Highway 
Commission  and  this  office,  and  bids  have  been  invited  to  be  received  July  25. 

We  believe  that  if  you  will  personally  investigate  this  matter  you  will  conclude 
that  we  have  done  what  is  best  for  the  local  community  and  the  Central  Highway. 

Very  respectfully, 

Vernon  M.  Peikce, 

Acting  Director. 


Asheville,  1ST.  O,  July  20,  1914. 
Hon.  Vernon  M.  Peirce, 

Acting  Director,  United  States  Department  of  Agriculture, 
Office  of  Public  Roads, 
Washington,  D.   C. 
My  dear  Sir  : — This  is  in  reply  to  your  letter  of  July  17th. 
I  am  well  acquainted  personally  with  all  of  the  road  from  Swannanoa  Gap 
through  Old  Henry  Station,  through  Old  Fort  to   Greenlee.     I  have  been  over 
this  road  many  times.     I  know  the  section,  and  I  know  the  people.     At  the  invita- 
tion of  many  of  the  leading  citizens  of  Old  Fort  I  took  an  active  interest  in  the 
election  for  the  bonds.     I,  and  all  others  who  took  part  in  this  election,  assured 
the  people  that  the  principal  purpose  of  the  bond  issue  was  to  build  a  road  from 
Old  Fort  to  Swannanoa  Gap.     I  know  that  the  people  voted  the  bonds  on  this 
understanding.    I  know  too  that  it  will  be  in  disregard  of  the  best  interest  of  the 
people  of  that  community  to  leave  the  road  from  Old  Henry  to  Swannanoa  Gap 
unprovided   for.     It  would  be  in   defiance  of   their  wishes   expressed  before  the 
election,  and  most  emphatically  expressed  now.     This  road  from  Old  Fort  by  Old 
Henry  to  the  top  of  the  mountain  is  one  of  the  most  important  roads  in  the  State. 
It  would  serve  more  people  than  any  other  one  road  in  the  State.     It  is  a  public 


HIGHWAYS  159 

necessity.  It  goes  through  a  sparsely  settled  country.  The  opportunity  to  secure 
this  road  is  now  when  we  have  $10,000  of  the  Federal  money.  If  the  authorities 
do  otherwise  than  build  this  road,  they  will  not  represent  the  people,  nor  will  they 
perform  the  proper  public  service.  Yours  truly, 

Locke   Craig, 

Governor. 

United  States  Department  of  Agriculture 

Office  of  Public  Roads 

Washington,  D.  C. 

Hon.  Locke  Craig,  July  21,  1914. 

Governor  of  North  Carolina, 
Asheville,  N.  C. 

Sir: — Your  letter  of  July  20th  is  received. 

It  is  our  desire,  in  improving  designated  post  roads,  to  cooperate  with  the  local 
community,  and  if  we  cannot  build  the  entire  road  designated  with  the  funds 
available,  to  build  that  portion  which  seems  of  greatest  benefit  to  the  community. 
This  is  what  we  intended  in  Old  Fort  Township  when  we  prepared  the  plans  for 
the  section  extending  from  Greenlee  Station  to  Old  Henry. 

The  Township  Commissioners,  when  the  matter  of  Federal  aid  first  came  up, 
expressed  themselves  very  definitely  on  this  point,  as  shown  by  the  inclosed  copy 
of  a  resolution  adopted  by  them  September  11,  1913,  at  the  time  they  set  aside 
funds  to  cooperate  with  this  Department;  and  again,  when  the  project  was  ap- 
proved and  contracts  between  Old  Fort  Township  and  the  United  States  Depart- 
ment of  Agriculture  were  prepared  and  presented  to  them  to  sign,  they  insisted 
that  the  contract  should  read  "Beginning  at  the  Marion  Township  line  at  Green- 
lee Station,  and  extending  by  way  of  Old  Fort  to  the  Buncombe  County  line,  as 
far  as  available  funds  will  permit"  and  it  was  so  prepared  and  executed  January 
16,  1914. 

But  if  the  Highway  Commissioners  have  changed  their  minds  and  now  wish 
the  work  to  begin  at  Kidgecrest,  we  are  willing  to  do  so  but  regret  that  we  shall 
have  lost  so  much  time  in  preparing  plans  for  the  Greenlee  end. 

Very  respectfully, 

Vernon  M.  Peirce, 

Acting  Director. 

Asheville,  1ST.  C,  July  23,  1914. 
Mr.  P.  H.  Mashburn, 

Chairman  of  the  Road  Commission, 
Old  Fort,  N.  C. 
My  dear  Sir  : — Has  the  Highway  Commission  changed  its  attitude  toward  the 
road  from  Old  Henry  to  the  top  of  the  mountain?     I  earnestly  hope  that  you  will 
never  sign  a  contract  that  will  not  provide  for  the  road  from  Old  Henry  to  the  top. 

Yours   sincerely, 

Locke   Craig, 

Governor. 


160   LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

Old  Fort  Township  Highway  Commission 

Governor  Locke  Craig,  Old  Fort,  'N.  O,  July  28,  1914. 

Asheville,  N.  C. 
Dear  Sir: — Your  letter  of  July  23d  received.  Bids  on  the  building  of  this 
link  of  the  Central  Highway  were  received  July  25th.  Mr.  Voshell,  from  the 
Office  of  Good  Eoads  at  Washington,  was  present  and  agreed  to  the  extension  of 
the  grading  of  the  road  from  Old  Henry  to  the  top  of  the  mountain.  This 
proposition  meets  the  approval  of  the  Highway  Commissioners,  also  the  approval 
of  the  citizens  who  were  objecting  to  the  original  plans.  So  far  as  we  know,  this 
is  satisfactory  to  all  parties.  Dr.  Pratt  was  here  on  the  24th,  and  we  went  over 
the  matter  with  him  and  he  said  that  if  the  people  of  the  township  were  satisfied 
he  would  make  no  further  protest.  Under  this  plan  we  can  open  the  road  from 
Greenlee  to  Eidgecrest. 

We  received  some  very  satisfactory  bids  on  the  work,  and  it  was  agreed  that 
the  contract  be  signed  this  week.  We  have  worked  very  hard  on  this  matter,  and 
believe  that  the  people  will  be  satisfied,  and  we  hope  it  will  meet  your  approval. 

Yours  very  truly, 

P.  H.  Mashburn, 

Chairman. 


Mr.  P.  H.  Mashburn,  Asheville,  1ST.  C,  August  12,  1914. 

Old  Fort.  N.  C. 

My  dear  Sir  : — Your  letter  of  July  28th  has  just  been  called  to  my  attention. 
I  am  gratified  to  know  that  you  have  made  arrangements  to  complete  the  road  up 
to  Ridgecrest. 

I  saw  Dr.  Pratt  yesterday,  and  he  told  me  that  you  intended  to'  call  a  meeting 
of  the  citizens  of  Old  Fort  to  ascertain  their  wishes  as  to  where  the  work  should 
begin.  This  is  my  recollection  of  his  conversation.  As  you  know,  I  have  always 
regarded  the  road  from  Old  Fort  to  Eidgecrest  as  the  most  important  part  of  the 
road.  It  will  benefit  your  community  more,  and  it  will  benefit  the  State  by  the 
completion  of  this  important  link  in  the  Central  Highway.  You  say  in  your 
letter  that  you  have  made  arrangements  to  open  the  road  from  Greenlee  to  Eidge- 
crest. I  understand  that  you  have  not  money  enough  to  grade  this  entire  road. 
Will  you  please  let  me  know  where  you  expect  to  begin  work  at  first? 

I  was  sure  that  you  would  all  come  to  a  satisfactory  conclusion,  because  I 
know  that  we  all  have  the  same  purpose  in  the  road. 

With  best  wishes,  Yours  sincerely,  Locke   Craig, 

Governor. 

Old  Fort  Township  Highway  Commission 

Governor  Locke  Craig,  Old  Fort,  !N".  O,  August  17,  1914. 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 
Dear  Sir: — I  am  in  receipt  of  your  letter  of  August  12th,  and  in  reply  to 
same  I  beg  to  say  that  the  Government  engineer  has  estimated  that  we  will  have 
money  enough  to  grade  the  road  from  Greenlee  to  Eidgecrest.     The  contractor 


HIGHWAYS  161 

is  beginning  work  at  Old  Fort,  working  toward  Eidgecrest  with  a  steam  shovel 
outfit,  also  at  Greenlee,  with  teams,  road  machines,  etc.,  working  toward  Old 
Tort.  Our  first  plan  was  to  gravel  the  road  from  Greenlee  to  Old  Fort.  After 
our  bids  were  all  received  we  found  we  could  not  gravel  any  of  the  road  and 
grade  the  road  to  Eidgecrest,  so  we  decided  to  eliminate  the  gravel  in  order  to  get 
the  road  graded  through  the  township.  This  plan  met  the  approval  of  those  who 
were  objecting  to  the  graveling  before  the  grading  was  done  to  Eidgecrest.  After 
this  plan  was  agreed  upon  it  was  not  necessary  to  call  a  meeting  of  the  citizens, 
as  Dr.  Pratt  suggested  when  he  was  here.  The  bridges  along  the  line  are  being 
built.  The  road  from  Greenlee  to  Old  Fort  follows  the  old  road  most  of  the  way, 
with  bridges  at  Greenlee  and  Curtis  Creek.  There  are  no  changes  through  the 
J.  B.  Burgin  farm,  except  widening  the  road  at  a  few  places. 

I  am  writing  Dr.  Pratt  in  regard  to  our  plans. 

Mamie  joins  me  in  sending  our  regards  to  you  and  your  family. 

Yours  very  truly, 

P.  H.  Mashburn, 

Chairman. 

Old  Foet,  1ST.  O,  September  11,  1913. 

At  a  special  meeting  of  the  Highway  Commissioners  of  Old  Fort  Township, 
McDowell  County,  North  Carolina,  the  following  resolutions  were  adopted: 

In  the  matter  of  Federal  aid  for  post  road  improvement  it  is  hereby 
ordered  that  the  road  from  Marion  Township  line  at  Greenlee  Station  via 
Old  Fort,  Round  Knob  and  Koonce's  Gap  to  the  Buncombe  County  line,  be 
hereby  designated  as  the  road  to  be  improved. 

In  the  event  that  the  joint  fund  will  not  be  sufficient  to  complete  the 
grade  and  surface  the  entire  distance  designated,  it  is  the  desire  of  the 
Highway  Commissioners  that  the  portion  of  the  route  from  Marion  Town- 
ship line  at  Greenlee  Station  to  Old  Fort  be  graded  and  surfaced  with  either 
sand-clay  or  gravel,  and  that  the  remainder  of  the  joint  fund,  after  deduct- 
ing for  this  work,  be  expended  in  grading  and  draining  the  section  from 
Old  Fort  to  the  Buncombe  County  line. 

It  is  further  ordered,  that,  upon  the  final  approval  of  this  project,  the 
sum  of  twenty  thousand  (520,000)  dollars  the  proceeds  of  a  recent  bond 
issue,  be  set  aside  for  this  improvement,  to  be  deposited  to  the  order  of  the 
Secretary  of  Agriculture  and  to  be  expended  under  the  provisions  of  the  act 
making  appropriations  for  the  service  of  the  Postoffice  Department  for  the 
fiscal  year  ending  June  30,  1913. 

Inasmuch  as  the  Highway  Commissioners  have  delayed  the  sale  of  the 
bonds  until  definite  information  could  be  obtained  regarding  the  approval 
of  this  project,  it  is  further  ordered  that,  in  the  event  the  local  guarantee 
is  required  before  funds  have  been  realized  from  the  sale  of  the  said  bonds, 
the  Highway  Commissioners  arrange  to  borrow  the  amount  of  the  local 
guarantee  from  the  banks  of  said  county  as  an  advance  on  the  sale  of  the 
honds.  (Signed)     P.  H.  Mashbtjrx, 

Chairman, 

Attest: 

F.  M.  Bradley, 

Secretary. 

11 


162        LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

(3) 

MISCELLANEOUS  CORRESPONDENCE  IN  REGARD  TO  OBTAINING 
FEDERAL  AID  FOR  DAVIDSON  AND  DAVIE  COUNTIES 

Mocksville,  K  C,  February  26,  1914. 
Hon.  Locke  Craig,  Governor, 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 
Dear  Sir: — With  reference  to  the  highway  to  be  built  in  Davie  County,  con- 
necting the  good  roads  of  Forsyth  and  the  good  roads  of  Iredell  County,  and  for 
which  you  desire  some  definite  information  as  to  the  location  of  the  road,  as  I 
understand,  will  say  that  the  Board  of  Road  Commissioners  of  Davie  County 
have  definitely  decided  to  build  the  road  as  follows: 

Beginning  at  the  Forsyth  County  line  at  the  proposed  new  bridge  at  Hall's 
Ferry,  and  following,  as  near  as  may  be  practical,  the  public  road  from  that  point 
to  Mocksville,  thence  from  Mocksville  to  the  Iredell  County  line  near  the  village 
of  County  Line,  following  the  public  road  as  near  as  may  be  practical  to  that 
point. 

The  distance  across  Davie  County  from  the  starting  point  on  Forsyth  line, 
via  Mocksville  to  Iredell  County  line,  is  about  23  miles.  The  Board  have  defin- 
itely decided  to  build  a  good  sand-clay  or  top-soil  road,  not  exceeding  at  any 
point  over  4  per  cent  grade,  connecting  with  Forsyth  County  on  the  east  and 
Iredell  County  on  the  west. 

If  any  other  information  is  required  we  shall  be  glad  to  furnish  it  at  once. 

Yours  truly, 

J.  F.  Moore, 
Clerk  of  the  Board  of  Road  C  ommissioners. 


Winston-Salem,  1ST.  C,  March  5,  1914. 
Hon.  Locke  Craig,  Governor, 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 

Dear  Sir: — The  Joint  Good  Roads  Committee  for  the  counties  of  Forsyth, 
Davie,  and  Iredell  for  the  construction  of  the  Central  Highway  have  definitely 
decided  upon  the  location  of  the  proposed  highway  through  the  above  named 
counties. 

The  route  decided  upon  will  begin  at  the  Guilford  line,  and  run  thence  through 
Kernersville  and  Winston-Salem,  in  Forsyth  County,  to  the  Davie  County  line 
on  the  Yadkin  River  at  the  point  where  the  new  steel  bridge  is  to  be  built  across 
said  river,  costing  $31,000,  running  thence  by  way  of  Farmington  to  Mocksville: 
and  from  Mocksville,  by  way  of  Callahan,  to  the  Davie  and  Iredell  line  at  a  point 
called  County  Line ;  thence  on  to  Statesville,  and  through  Statesville  to  the 
Catawba  County  line  at  the  Buffalo  Shoals  steel  bridge,  a  bridge  which  cost 
$20,000.  The  proposed  line  runs  26  miles  through  Forsyth,  27  miles  through 
Davie,  and  26  miles  through  Iredell.  It  passes  through  all  of  the  important 
cities  and  towns  in  the  above  named  counties,  runs  through  the  most  thickly 
populated  rural  sections  of  said  counties,  and  accommodates  more  rural  mail 
routes  than  any  other  line  that  could  be  selected  through  the  above  named  coun- 


HIGHWAYS  163 

ties.  It  is  the  best  and  shortest  route  that  could  be  selected,  and  we  believe  it 
will  give  entire  satisfaction  to  the  people  of  all  the  above  named  counties,  and 
in  our  opinion  it  is  the  best  and  most  satisfactory  line  for  a  highway  running 
from  the  coast  to  the  mountains. 

The  road  through  all  three  of  these  counties  will  be  of  modern  construction, 
built  of  sand-clay  or  macadam,  and  of  uniform  width  of  30  feet  roadbed,  with 
proper  and  sufficient  drains.  The  bridges  will  all  be  high-class  steel  bridges  of 
sufficient  width. 

In  the  selection  of  this  line  the  committee  has  selected  a  route  on  which  there 
is  an  abundance  of  suitable  road  material  for  the  sand-clay  and  the  macadam 
work.  A  portion  of  this  work  has  already  been  built,  and  the  balance  will  be 
pushed  as  rapidly  as  first-class  construction  will  permit,  upon  receipt  of  the  funds 
which  the  United  States  Government  proposes  to  contribute  toward  the  construc- 
tion of  this  line.  Our  people  are  enthusiastic  over  the  construction  of  the  Central 
Highway  and  are  anxious  to  get  to  work  at  it  as  soon  as  possible.  The  line  above 
selected  through  each  of  the  above  named  counties  follows  in  the  main  the  oldest 
established  roads  in  said  counties. 

The  County  Commissioners  and  Eoad  Commissions  of  each  of  the  above 
named  counties  have  already  agreed  to  contribute  their  proportion  of  the  cost  for 
building  the  above  named  line,  have  the  money  on  hand  for  their  respective  pro- 
portion for  that  purpose,  and  are  ready  to  pay  over  the  same  for  the  construction 
of  the  road.  Respectfully  yours, 

P.  H.  Hanes, 
Chairman  of  Committees. 


State  of  North  Carolina 
Executive  Department 
Raleigh 
Hon.  James  I.  Blakslee,  March  9,  1914. 

Fourth  Assistant  Postmaster  General, 
Washington,  D.  C. 
My  dear  Sir  : — In  answer  to  your  letter  of  March  6  th  I  will  say : 
The  road  from  Mocksville  to  Statesville  may  be  fifty-two  miles  long,  but  by 
far  the  larger  part  of  this  road  is  already  improved,  and  the  amount  apportioned 
by  you   from   the   Government    appropriation,   together   with   what    money   local 
authorities  propose  to  spend  on  this  road,  would  make  the  whole  a  splendid  high- 
way in  the  most  traveled  section  of  our  State. 

According  to  the  original  plan  under  which  this  Government  appropriation 
was  to  be  expended,  it  was  required  that  fifty  miles  of  continuous  road  be  desig- 
nated for  the  expenditure  of  the  Government  money.  In  view  of  these  facts  the 
withdrawal  of  the  money  for  the  road  between  Mocksville  and  Statesville  seems 
to  me  altogether  unjustifiable.  I  hope,  therefore,  that  you  will  reconsider  and 
allow  these  people  to  have  the  money  on  which  they  have  been  depending  with 
confidence.  The  withdrawal  would  in  my  opinion,  give  them  just  cause  for 
complaint. 

As  to  delay,  it  is  clear  to  my  mind  that  there  was  some  confusion  in  the 
department  at  "Washington.  Mr.  Hanes,  of  Winston-Salem,  wrote  me  that  he 
designated  and  specifically  described  the  road  to  the  Postoffice  Department  several 


164   LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

months  ago  as  requested  by  me.  Besides,  the  winter  months  are  not  an  advan- 
tageous time  in  which  to  work  the  roads.  Now  that  the  spring  is  opening,  I  hope 
that  you  will  not  disappoint  the  people  of  North  Carolina  by  withdrawing  from 
them  the  advantages  to  which  they  are  entitled  under  the  bill  appropriating  this 
money.  Yours  truly, 

Locke  Craig, 

Governor. 

State  of  North  Carolina 

Executive  Department 

Raleigh 

March  17,  1914. 
Mr.  James  I.  Blakslee, 

Fourth  Assistant  Postmaster  General, 
Washington,  D.  C. 
Dear  Sir  : — I  approve  the  road  specifically  described  by  Hon.  H.  B.  Varner, 
in  Davidson  County,  for  the  expenditure  of  ten  thousand  dollars  of  the  money  set 
apart  by  the  Federal  Government  for  the  State  of  North  Carolina,  to  be  expended 
on  post  roads. 

The  road  herein  referred  to  is  that  from  the  Guilford  County  line  via  Thomas- 
ville  to  Lexington,  and  on  to  the  Rowan  County  line.  It  is  known  as  that  part 
of  the  Central  Highway  lying  in  Davidson  County. 

Yours  very  truly, 

Locke  Craig, 

Governor. 

Post  Office  Department 
Fourth  Assistant  Postmaster  General 

Washington,  March  18,  1914. 
Hon.  Locke  Craig, 

Governor  of  the  State  of  North  Carolina, 
Raleigh,  North  Carolina, 
My  dear  Governor  Craig  : — I  beg  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  com- 
munication of  the  17th  instant  indicating  your  approval  of  a  road  in  Davidson 
County,  North  Carolina,  for  approval  under  the  cooperative  project  authorized 
by  Congress,  and  to  state  that  an  inspection  of  the  highway  in  question  will  be 
made  as  promptly  as  possible  by  a  road  engineer  of  the  Office  of  Public  Roads, 
Department  of  Agriculture.     On  receipt  of  his  report,  you  will  be  further  advised. 

Yours  very  truly, 

Geo.  C.  "Wood, 
Acting  Fourth  Assistant  Postmaster  General. 


HIGHWAYS  165 

(4) 

APPOINTMENT  OF  COMMISSIONERS  FOR  VARIOUS  TOWNSHIPS 
IN  MCDOWELL  COUNTY 

State  of  North  Carolina 
Executive  Department 
Raleigh 
Me.  A.  Blanton,  May  27,  1913. 

Mr.  B.  L.  Ashworth, 
Mr.  George  Carson, 

Marion,  N.  C. 
Gentlemen  : — By  the  power  conferred  upon  me  by  the  last  Legislature  and 
in  pursuance  of  the  recent  election  in  Marion  Township,  I  have  appointed  the 
following  as  Road  Commissioners: 

A.  Blanton, 

B.  L.  Ashworth, 
George  Carson. 

The  commissions  will  be  duly  issued. 

Tours  truly, 

Locke  Craig, 

Governor. 

State  of  North  Carolina 
Executive  Department 
Raleigh 
Mr.  P.  H.  Mashburn,  May  27,  1913. 

Mr.  Fred  Bradlet, 

Old  Fort,  N.    C. 
Gentlemen  : — Under  the  power   conferred  upon  me  by  the  last  Legislature 
I  have  appointed  Road  Commissioners  for  Old  Fort  Township :     Hugh  A.  Tate, 
P.  H.  Mashburn  and  Fred  Bradley. 

I  inclose  you  a  copy  of  a  letter  which  I  have  received  from  Senator  Simmons, 
which  explains  itself.    Your  commissions  will  be  duly  issued. 

Yours  truly, 

Locke  Craig, 

Governor. 

United  States  Senate 
Committee  on  Finance 

Hon.  Locke  Ceaig,  Washington,  May  23,  1913. 

Executive  Office, 

Raleigh,  N.  G. 

My  dear  Governor: — Again  referring  to  your  recent  letter,  I  beg  to  say 
that  I  have  had  the  matter  of  the  Federal  appropriation  for  public  roads  in 
our  State  up  with  the  Department  for  some  days,  and  at  my  request  Mr. 
Page,  the  Director  of  Public  Roads,  has  put  in  writing  the  following  informa- 
tion with  reference  to  the  appropriation  for  this  purpose: 


166        LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

"Forty  thousand  dollars  of  Federal  money  has  been  tentatively 
allotted  to  North  Carolina  for  this  purpose.  The  local  subdivision 
of  the  State  must  furnish  double  the  amount  supplied  by  the  Fed- 
eral Government.  The  money  appropriated  by  the  local  subdivision 
is  generally  best  deposited  in  the  hands  of  a  local  trustee,  to  be  dis- 
bursed on  the  order  of  the  duly  qualified  representative  of  this  Office. 
It  probably  would  be  convenient  and  satisfactory  to  make  a  national 
bank  the  trustee.  The  engineering  work  is  to  be  done  by  this  Office, 
and  one  of  our  engineers  will  be  in  immediate  charge  of  the  con- 
struction. No  convicts  will  be  permitted  to  work  on  the  road,  and 
the  laborers  will  be  permitted  to  work  only  eight  hours  a  day  on 
such  road." 

With  high  personal  regard  and  best  wishes,  I  am, 

Very  truly  yours, 

F.  M.  Simmons. 

State  of  North  Carolina 
Executive  Department 
Raleigh 
Mr.  J.  W.  Pless,  May  27,  1913. 

Mai-ion,  N.  C. 

My  dear  Will  : — I  have  just  received  your  letter  of  the  25th.    I  have  appointed 
for  Commissioners  of  Marion  Township : 

A.  Blanton,  Chairman. 

B.  L.   Ashworth, 
George  Carson. 

For  Old  Fort  Township  I  have  appointed : 
Hugh  A.  Tate, 
P.  PL  Mashburn, 
Fred  Bradley. 
Write  me  about  ISTebo. 

Your  friend, 

Locke  Craig, 

Governor. 


Old  Fort,  K  O,  May  19,  1913. 

Governor  Locke  Craig, 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 
Dear  Sir: — As  you  have  previously  been  advised,  our  bond  issue  was  voted 
by  a  large  majority.  ISTot  knowing  whether  you  have  selected  the  men  whom  you 
wish  to  appoint  as  road  commissioners  to  handle  the  funds,  and  thinking,  per- 
haps, you  would  like  to  receive  some  suggestions,  we,  the  undersigned  citizens 
respectfully  submit  for  your  consideration,  the  following  names,  to  wit : 

P.  H.  Mashburn, 
J.  S.  Bradley, 
L.  B.  Moore, 
Hugh  A.  Tate, 
J.  F.  Harmon. 


HIGHWAYS  167 

These  are  all  good,  sound  business  men,  good  roads  enthusiasts  and  men  who 
could  be  depended  upon  to  use  the  money  judiciously  and  to  the  best  advantage. 
If  you  desire  any  further  information,  we  would  be  glad  to  furnish  same. 

Yours  very  truly, 

S.  F.  Maunet. 

I.  H.  Greene. 

"W.  J.  Souther. 

D.  M.  McIntosh,  M.D. 

J.  M.  Mashburn. 

F.  M.  Bradley. 

Jas.  K.  Cowan. 


State  of  North  Carolina 

Executive  Department 

Raleigh 

June  11,  1913. 
Road  Commissioners  for  Nebo  Township  appointed : 

J.  L.  Padgett, 
T.  M.  Hemphill, 
W.  G.  Hunter. 

Note. — The  commissioners  were  nonpartisan. 

Note. — As  a  result  of  the  interest  in  the  road  across  McDowell  County,  it  was  nearly 
completed  during  Governor  Craig's  administration  to  the  top  of  the  Mountain  at  Swan- 
nanoa  Gap,  and  represents  one  of  the  finest  mountain  highways  in  the  United  States. 

It  was  found  after  the  township  had  voted  its  money,  and  the  Government  had  appro- 
priated ten  thousand  dollars  that  this  was  not  sufficient  to  construct  the  road  to  the  top 
of  the  mountain.  Governor  Craig  was  instrumental  in  having  the  bill  passed  by  the 
General  Assembly  of  1915  authorizing  the  use  of  State  prisoners  in  completing  the  road 
from  Old  Henry  to  Swannanoa  Gap.  Without  the  assistance  of  the  State  in  this  way,  it 
would  have  been  impossible  to  have  completed  the  road.  The  reason  for  the  Governor's 
active  interest  in  this  road  was  that  it  was  a  very  important  link  in  the  State  Highway 
(Central  Highway)  extending  from  Morehead  City  to  the  Tennessee  line,  and  all  the 
people  of  the  State  were  interested  in  its  construction.  When  this  road  is  completed  it 
will  probably  have  more  travel  than  any  other  road  in  the  State. 

During  the  administration  of  Governor  Craig  more  miles  of  improved  highways  were 
built  than  in  the  entire  previous  history  of  North  Carolina.  Up  to  1913  the  State  had 
only  built  5,000  miles  of  improved  highways;  during  Governor  Craig's  administration  a 
total  of  10,000  miles  have  been  built,  making  a  total  of  15,000  miles  of  public  highways  in 
the  State  of  North  Carolina. 


(V) 
PAROLE  OF  STATE'S  PRISONERS 


PAROLE  OF  STATE'S  PRISONERS 

1.  Letter  from  the  Governor  authorizing  the  parole  of  all  trusties  for  three 
days  at  Christmas,  and  three  days  holiday  to  all  of  the  State's  prisoners,  from 
December  2J+th  to  December  26th,  inclusive. 

2.  Reports  of  the  sheriffs,  in  compliance  with  the  Governor's  request,  of  pris~ 
oners  paroled,  and  prisoners  given  a  holiday.     (See  note.) 

3.  Parole  of  State's  Prisoners,  Christmas,  1916. 

4.  Reports  of  Sheriffs  on  Results  of  Parole. 


Note. — These  reports  of  the  sheriffs  show  that  hundreds  of  the  State's  prisoners  were 
released  on  parole  and  allowed  to  go  to  their  homes  to  spend  Christmas,  some  of  them 
serving  life  terms.  All  returned  but  two.  One  of  these  ran  away  and  the  other  was 
delayed  on  account  of  desperate  illness.  Nearly  every  one  wrote  to  the  Governor  upon 
his  return  to  captivity,  expressing  heartfelt  appreciation  and  gratitude  for  his  clemency. 
Their  letters  are  on  file  in  the  Governor's  office. 


(1) 

LETTER  FROM  THE  GOVERNOR  AUTHORIZING  THE  PAROLE  OF  ALL 

TRUSTIES  FOR  THREE  DAYS  AT  CHRISTMAS,  AND  THREE  DAYS 

HOLIDAY   TO    ALL  OF  THE   STATE'S   PRISONERS,  FROM 

DECEMBER  24TH  TO  DECEMBER  26TH,  INCLUSIVE 

State  of  ISTorth  Carolina 

Executive  Department 

Raleigh 

December  22,  1915. 
To  the  Superintendent  of  the  State's  Prison, 
The  Sheriffs  of  the  Counties  of  North  Carolina,  and 
To  the  Officers  in  charge  of  Convict  Camps  and  Forces. 

Greetings  : — You  are  hereby  authorized  and  requested  to  allow  each  and  every 
prisoner  who  is  and  has  been  a  trusty  for  ten  days  prior  to  this  date  to  return  to 
his  home  or  other  place  chosen  by  him,  and  to  remain  away  from  the  camp  or 
prison  during  Friday,  Saturday  and  Sunday,  the  24th,  25th,  and  26th  of  Decem- 
ber, provided  such  trusty  pledge  his  honor  and  satisfy  the  officer  in  charge  that 
he  will  return  by  twelve  o'clock  on  Monday,  December  the  27th. 

You  are  further  authorized  and  requested  to  give  to  all  of  the  prisoners  in  your 
charge  a  holiday  on  Friday,  Saturday  and  Sunday,  the  24th,  25th,  and  26th  of 
December. 

You  are  furthermore  directed  and  requested  to  report  to  me  on  or  before  the 
first  day  of  January  your  action  in  accordance  herewith  and  the  results,  and  the 
names  and  conduct  of  each  prisoner  paroled.  Locke  Craig 

Governor. 


(2) 

REPORTS  OF  THE   SHERIFFS,   IN   COMPLIANCE  WITH   THE  GOV- 
ERNOR'S REQUEST,  OF  PRISONERS  PAROLED,  AND 
PRISONERS  GIVEN  A  HOLIDAY 

The  State's  Prison 

Governor  Locke  Craig,  Raleigh,  1ST.  C,  December  31,  1915. 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 

Dear  Sir  : — I  have  the  honor  to  report  that  in  obedience  to  your  directions  all 
of  the  prisoners  in  the  State  Penitentiary  were  given  three  days  holiday. 

At  the  Central  Prison  we  had  but  one  man  who  was  considered  a  trusty.  He 
expressed  his  gratitude  for  the  opportunity  of  visiting  his  home,  but  declined  to 
go  and  spent  his  time  in  and  around  the  prison  without  any  restriction. 


172        LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

At  the  State  Farm,  Camp  No.  1,  in  charge  of  Captain  Christian,  there  were 
fourteen  trusties  who  took  advantage  of  the  opportunity  to  go  home  and  visit  their 
families.  All  but  two  returned  on  time.  Those  two  were  delayed  by  failing  to 
make  connection  and  did  not  arrive  at  the  camp  until  9  o'clock  Tuesday  morning. 

At  Camp  No.  2,  in  charge  of  Captain  Rhem,  there  were  nine  who  visited  their 
families,  all  of  whom  returned  promptly  on  time. 

At  Ridgecrest,  in  charge  of  Captain  Watson,  there  were  six  paroled ;  three  of 
them  visiting  their  families  and  the  other  three  spending  the  day  in  Asheville. 
All  returned  promptly  on  time. 

At  Bat  Cave  camp,  in  charge  of  Captain  Stanley,  there  were  seven  paroled. 
All  visited  their  families  and  returned  promptly  on  time. 

At  Statesville  camp,  in  charge  of  Captain  Gaither,  there  were  four  paroled. 
They  lived  too  far  away  to  visit  their  families,  but  spent  the  day  in  the  county 
and  returned  on  time. 

At  the  Elkin  and  Alleghany  camp,  in  charge  of  Captain  Ewing,  there  were 
two  paroled.  They  lived  too  far  away  to  visit  their  families,  and  spent  the  day 
in  Elkin  and  returned  to  the  camp  on  time. 

At  the  Whitney  camp,  in  charge  of  Captain  Busbee,  there  were  four  trusties, 
but  only  one  took  advantage  of  the  opportunity  to  go  home.  He  returned  promptly 
on  time. 

At  the  Watauga  camp,  in  charge  of  Captain  Hight,  there  was  only  one  trusty, 
and  as  it  was  too  far  for  him  to  go  home,  he  spent  his  time  in  and  around  the 
camp. 

At  the  Madison  County  camp,  in  charge  of  Captain  Peoples,  there  was  no 
trusty,  hence  none  paroled  from  this  camp. 

The  total  number  of  prisoners  paroled  and  who  took  advantage  of  the  oppor- 
tunity to  leave  camp  was  forty-three,  and  as  stated  above,  they  all  returned  and 
are  now  at  work. 

Those  of  them  who  visited  their  families  expressed  themselves  as  having  had 
a  very  Merry  Christmas,  and  all  of  them  expressed  their  thanks  to  you  for  the 
confidence  that  you  had  in  them. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

E.  F.  McCulloch, 

Clerk. 

Hon.  Locke  Craig,  Thurmond,  N.  C,  December  27,  1915. 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 
Dear  Governor: — As  you  requested,  Joe  Cotton  and  Alvin  Edmonds,  trusties 
at  my  camp  were  given  the  privilege  to  go  home  or  to  any  other  place  they  wished. 
Their  home  was  so  far  from  camp  they  could  not  get  back  in  time,  so  they  decided 
to  go  to  Elkin  Christmas  day  and  spend  the  day.  They  said  that  was  the  only 
day  they  wanted  unless  they  could  go  home  and  get  back  in  time.  I  gave  them 
new  citizens'  clothes.  They  said  they  certainly  enjoyed  the  day  off.  They  both 
came  back.  Very  respectfully, 

K  B.  Ewing, 

Supervisor. 


PAROLE  OF  STATE'S  PRISONERS  173 

Governor  Locke  Craig,  Wadesboro,  N".  C,  December  30,  1915. 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 

Dear  Sir  : — I  am  writing  you  about  my  convicts.  All  came  back  except  one, 
Jesse  Young,  and  he  is  unable  to  get  back.  Tom  Flake  (white),  Jesse  Price 
(white),  Melton  Tellmon  (colored),  Archie  Davis  (colored),  Sam  Rorie  (colored), 
Jean  Wright  (colored),  Dave  Covington  (colored),  Carson  McGlothin  (colored), 
Jim  Martin  (colored),  Pickett  Liles  (colored),  Shelton  Broadaway  (colored),  Will 
Benett   (colored). 

They  all  came  back  on  time.  M.  B.  Howell, 

Superintendent  of  Roads  of  Anson  County. 

State  of  North  Carolina 
Bertie  County 

To  His  Excellency,  Locke  Craig,  Governor: 

Agreeable  to  an  order  and  request  made  by  you  bearing  date  of  22d  day  of 
December,  1915,  to  allow  certain  trusty  prisoners  to  return  to  their  respective 
homes  and  remain  away  from  the  prison  camp  during  the  24th,  25th,  and  26th 
of  December :  I  beg  leave  to  report  that  I  permitted  the  following  prisoners  under 
my  control  to  go  to  their  respective  homes  on  the  24th  day  of  December,  to  wit: 
Frank  Williams,  Charlie  Moton,  Eufus  Cherry,  William  Cherry,  Governor  Gillam, 
Harrison  Pellman ;  and  that  all  of  them  reported  on  Monday,  the  27th  of  Decem- 
ber, to  resume  work  at  the  hour  named  for  their  return.  I  further  report  that  so 
far  as  I  have  been  able  to  learn  their  deportment  was  good  during  the  time  they 
were  away  from  the  camp. 

This  December  30,   1915.  W.   T.   Hichstall, 

Superintendent  of  Roads,  Windsor  Township,  Bertie  County. 

[Telegram] 

Hon.  Governor  Locke  Craig,  Asheville,  K  C,  December  27,  1915. 
Raleigh,  N.  C. 

Thirty-five  trusties  spent  Christmas  at  home.  All  returned  today  at  twelve 
o'clock.  W.  E.  Johnson. 

His  Excellency,  Locke  Craig,  Morganton,  K  C,  December  27,  1915. 

Governor  of  North  Carolina, 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 

Dear  Governor  : — I  have  the  honor  to  report  that,  pursuant  to  your  communi- 
cation of  date  December  22,  1915,  I  released  from  custody  on  December  24th,  25th, 
and  26th,  the  following  trusties:    John  Butler,  William  Butler,  Claude  Beck. 

I  desire  also  to  report  that  each  of  the  above-named  prisoners  returned  to  me 
this  day,  and  I  desire  to  say  that  their  conduct  has  been  above  suspicion  and  each 
of  them  desires  to  return  to  you  their  many,  many  thanks  for  this  liberty. 

Respectfully, 

F.  C.  Berry, 
Sheriff  of  Burke  County. 


174        LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

His  Excellency,  Locke  Craig,  Concord,  BT.  C,  December  28,  1915. 

Governor  of  North  Carolina, 
Raleigh,  N.  C. 
Dear  Sir: — In  accordance  with,  your  request  of  December  22,  every  prisoner 
who  had  been  a  trusty  for  ten  days  prior  to  the  date  of  your  letter  was  allowed  to 
return  home  and  remain  away  from  the  camp  during  Friday,  Saturday  and  Sun- 
day, the  24th,  25th,  and  26th  of  December. 

The  following  prisoners  were  paroled :  Eobert  Alexander,  Robert  Scott,  Ernest 
Alexander,  Van  Surratt,  Toots  Ellis,  and  Sam  Sibley.  The  conduct  of  all  of  them 
was  good  and  all  appeared  back  at  the  camp  on  Sunday  evening  ready  for  work 
Monday  morning.  Yours  truly, 

H.  "W.  Caldwell, 
Sheriff  Cabarrus  County. 

Yanceyville,  1ST.  C,  December  29,  1915. 
Hon.  Locke  Craig,  Governor, 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 

Dear  Sir  : — I  didn't  have  in  hand  any  prisoners  who  were  trusties,  and  the  jail 
is  now  empty.  Yours  truly, 

T.  1ST.  Fitch, 
Sheriff  of  Caswell  County. 

Governor  Locke  Craig,  Shelby,  N.  C,  December  27,  1915. 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 
Dear  Sir: — In  regards  Cleveland  County  prisoners,  I  have  twenty-four  pris- 
oners, and  nine  of  them  are  trusties.     I  let  all  go  Friday  morning  at  8.30  o'clock, 
and  all  were  back  at  the  appointed  time  but  two,  and  their  time  expired  Decem- 
ber 26.  John  W.  Norman, 

Superintendent. 

Hon.  Locke  Craig,  Governor,  New  Bern,  KT.  C,  December  29,  1915. 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 
Dear  Sir  : — I  released  from  county  jail,  Friday,  J.  H.  Fisher,  colored,  and 
Annie  Spencer,  also  colored.    Both  reported  Monday  at  12  o'clock.    Their  behavior 
was  good.  B.  B.  Lane, 

Sheriff  Craven  County. 

Hon.  Locke  Craig,  Durham,  N.  C,  January  3,  1916. 

Governor  of  North  Carolina, 
Raleigh,  N.  C. 
Dear  Sir  : — I  beg  leave  to  report  that,  according  to  your  instructions  issued  to 
the  Sheriff  of  Durham  County,  I  allowed  to  go  home  and  spend  three  days  at 
Christmas,  twenty-three  trusties,  all  of  whom  returned  at  the  specified  time.    They 
expressed  themselves  as  having  enjoyed  their  holidays  to  the  fullest  extent. 

Very  respectfully,  J.  M.  Pollard, 

Road  Superintendent,  Durham  County. 


PAROLE  OF  STATE'S  PRISONERS  175 

Hon.  Locke  Ceaig,  Durham,  1ST.  C,  December  28,  1915. 

Governor  of  North  Carolina, 
Raleigh,  N.  C. 
Dear  Sir  : — I  beg  leave  to  report  that,  according  to  your  instructions  issued  to 
the  Sheriff  of  Durham  County,  I  allowed  to  go  home  and  spend  three  days  at 
Christmas,  four  trusties.    All  returned  at  the  specified  time. 

Very  respectfully,  E.  D.  Couch, 

Superintendent  County  Rome. 

Hon.  Locke  Craig,  Governor,  Louisburg,  K  C,  December  31,  1915. 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 
Dear  Sir  : — We  submit  the  following  report  on  convicts  allowed  to  spend  the 
Christmas  holidays  at  their  homes :  C.  H.  Williams,  William  Weal,  Jesse  Anderson, 
Bob  Yarboro,  John  Winston,  Larkin  Smith,  Will  Hart,  and  Luther  Hicks  were 
allowed  to  go  home.  They  reported  back  for  duty  at  the  proper  time,  all  seeming 
to  appreciate  the  holiday  very  much.  George  Royster,  living  near  Townsville, 
Vance  County,  was  also  allowed  to  go  home  and  did  not  return.  Will  Leonard 
came  back  one  day  late  very  drunk,  and  had  to  be  confined  again. 

Very  respectfully,  C.  M.  Vaughan, 

Superintendent,  Louisburg  Township  Roads. 

To  His  Excellency,  Governor  Craig, 
Raleigh,  N.  C. 

Dear  Sir  : — Pursuant  to  your  order  to  give  trusties  a  leave  of  absence  for 
Christmas  and  allow  other  prisoners  four  days  of  rest,  I  beg  to  say  that  your  order 
was  strictly  carried  out.  All  the  prisoners  reported  back  at  the  time  appointed. 
William  Allen,  Green  Evans,  Eobert  Richardson  (negroes)  behaved  all  right. 
Ephraim  Mangum  (white)  got  a  little  drammy,  but  was  not  arrested  and  did  no 
harm. 

The  other  prisoners  remained  in  custody  and  seemed  to  enjoy  their  Christmas 
rest.  Respectfully,  R.  A.  Jones, 

Manager  Road  Force,  Granville  County. 

Governor  Locke  Craig,  Greenville,  1ST.  C,  December  28,  1915. 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 
Dear  Governor: — The  road  superintendent  stated  today  that  all  the  trusties 
that  were  given  the  privilege  of  going  home  through  the  holidays  returned  to  work 
highly  pleased  and  with  a  new  spirit.  Very  sincerely, 

S.  J.  Everett. 

Governor  Locke  Craig,  Greensboro,  1ST.  C,  December  30,  1915. 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 
Dear  Sir: — The  following  prisoners,  by  your  order,  I  allowed  to  go  to  their 
homes  during  Christmas.     They  all  returned  promptly  and,  as  far  as  I  know,  con- 
ducted themselves  properly  during  their  absence :  John  Wade  and  Allen  Newton 
(white),  Jim  Jackson,  Ernest  Curley,  Will  Beety,  and  Hazel  Freese. 

Respectfully,  G.  W.  Hiatt. 


176   LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

Hon.  Locke  Craig,  Governor,  Statesville,  K  O,  December  23,  1915. 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 

My  dear  Governor  : — As  per  your  order  and  request,  I  released  six  trusties — 
all  we  had — during  Friday,  Saturday,  and  Sunday.  They  were  very  thankful  to 
you  for  making  this  order.  All  of  them,  so  far  as  I  have  been  able  to  learn,  con- 
ducted themselves  honorably  during  this  time  and  returned  to  the  camp  Monday 
before  12  o'clock.  On  behalf  of  the  prisoners  and  myself  I  want  to  thank  you  for 
making  this  order.     I  am  a  great  believer  in  the  parole  system. 

Hoping  you  and  your  family  had  a  merry  Christmas  and  wishing  you  a  happy 
New  Year.  Yours  to  serve,  J.  M.  Deaton,  Sheriff. 

His  Excellency,  Governor  Craig,  Trenton,  rj.  C,  December  23,  1915. 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 

Dear  Sir  : — I  am  thankful  to  report  hat  Jones  County  has  no  prisoners. 

Yours  truly,  J.  S.  Harqett,  Sheriff. 

Hon.  Locke  Ceaig,  Clayton,  N.  C,  December  31,  1915. 

Governor  of  North  Carolina, 
Raleigh,  N.  C. 
My  dear  Sir  : — In  accordance  with  your  request,  I  let  the  trusties  in  my  charge 
go  home  Christmas.  Two  returned  Sunday  afternoon,  the  other  returned  Monday 
morning.  One  whose  sentence  expires  on  the  2d  day  of  January,  1916,  did  not 
care  to  go.  All  asked  me  to  return  their  thanks  to  you,  and,  judging  from  their 
actions,  they  certainly  did  appreciate  the  favor.  Eespectfully, 

L.  H.  Champion, 
Chairman  Board  Road  Supervisors,  Clayton  Township. 

Hon.  Locke  Craig,  Kjnston,  1ST.  C,  December  28,  1915. 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 
Dear  Sir: — Your  letter  of  December  22d  received,  and  I  have  complied  with 
your  orders.    We  liberated  six  trusties  on  the  23d,  and  they  all  returned  the  follow- 
ing Monday  morning  and  seemed  to  be  well  pleased. 

Yours  truly,  A.  W.  Taylor, 

Sheriff  Lenoir  County. 

Hon.  Locke  Craig,  Governor,  Nashville,  K  C,  December  30,  1915. 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 
Dear  Sir  : — I  beg  to  submit  report  of  our  convicts  who  were  paroled  on  Decem- 
ber 24th,  25th,  and  26th.  I  am  glad  to  say  that  all  who  received  parole  reported 
back  to  camp  on  time  Monday,  the  27th,  with  good  conduct,  and  those  who  received 
only  holiday  conducted  themselves  very  satisfactorily  to  the  officer  in  charge.  All 
of  the  convicts  seemed  to  appreciate  your  kindness  very  much.  I  think  this  was  a 
wise  proclamation,  and  that  it  will  have  its  influence  as  to  the  conduct  and  behavior 
of  all  convicts.  Yours  very  truly,  N".  C.  "Warren,  Sheriff. 

By  T.  W.  Marchland,  Deputy. 


PAROLE  OF  STATE'S  PRISONERS  111 

Goveenoe  Locke  Ckaig,  Smithfield,  N.  C,  December  30,  1915. 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 

My  dear  Sik: — I  hereby  submit  the  following  report  of  convicts  under  my 
control  at  the  camps  of  the  Smithfield  Township  roads :  Ed.  Young  (white)  and 
Ed.  Eand  (colored)  went  home  the  24th  and  came  back  the  27th,  as  told  to  do. 
Jack  Beasley  (white),  Ed.  Pittman  and  Jake  Spruill  (colored)  had  the  liberty  to 
go  around  where  they  wished.  Each  one  went  over  to  Smithfield  and  visited  some, 
but  came  back  at  night  and  seemed  to  enjoy  his  liberty.  I  gave  all  the  prisoners 
a  Christmas  dinner  and  some  fruit  and  confectioneries.  I  have  twenty  on  the  road 
force  in  this  township — five  white  men  and  fifteen  negroes. 

"With  best  wishes  to  you  and  the  hope  that  the  New  Year  may  be  the  brightest 
and  best  to  you  and  yours.  Your  friend,  Geoege  L.  Jones, 

Superintendent  Smithfield  Township  Roads. 

Hon.  Locke  Ceaig,  Halifax,  ST.  C,  December  29,  1915. 

Governor  of  North  Carolina, 
Raleigh,  N.  C. 

Deae  Sie  : — I  fail  to  find  words  of  sufficient  force  to  express  my  most  sincere 
thanks  for  your  kindness  in  granting  me  leave  to  spend  Christmas  with  loved  ones. 
The  news  came  to  me  as  though  heralded  from  heaven  itself.  I  am  sure  that  the 
fact  that  on  the  eve  of  the  most  merry  time  of  the  year  you  were  thinking  of  the 
prisoner  and  pondering  in  your  mind  just  how  you  could  make  his  lot  more  bear- 
able.   You  must  have  had  an  inspiration  superhuman. 

There  was  some  speculation  as  to  whether  those  that  went  would  return  or  not. 
Those  that  went  from  this  camp  were  faithful  to  their  trust.  Speaking  for  myself, 
I  would  have  suffered  almost  to  have  given  an  arm  before  I  would  have  betrayed 
the  confidence. 

Again  thanking  you  for  the  kindness,  I  am, 

Your  humble  servant,  W.  A.  Jones. 

Caledonia  Faem.    Home :  High  Point,  W.  C. 

"Walnut,  1ST.  C,  January  4,  1916. 
Hon.  Locke  Ceaig,  Governor. 

Deae  Sie  : — In  reply  to  your  order  for  the  prisoners  to  have  holiday  for  Christ- 
mas, I  gave  them  all  the  days  required  by  you.  I  have  only  two  trusties,  and  they 
were  back  on  time.  Their  behavior  was  excellent.  The  trusties  are  Charley  John- 
son and  Ashley  Sawyers.  Yours  truly,  Eobeet  Tweed, 

Superintendent  Madison  County  Convict  Camp. 

Buegaw,  1ST.  C,  December  28,  1915. 
To  His  Excellency,  Locke  Ceaig,  Governor, 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 
Deae  Sie  : — As  per  your  authority  and  request  of  the  22d  inst.,  I  beg  leave  to 
advise  that  I  allowed  the  following  to  return  home  Friday  to  spend  the  holidays, 
viz. :    E.  IT.  Orr,  H.  F.  Euss  and  W.  T.  ISTixon.    I  am  glad  to  report  that  they  all 
came  back  on  time  Monday,  seemingly  with  very  grateful  hearts. 

Very  truly  yours,  W.   E.   Atkinson, 

Sheriff  Pender  County. 
12 


178   LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

Middlesex,  N".  C,  December  29,  1915. 
Hon.  Locke  Craig,  Governor. 

Dear  Sir: — I  will  answer  your  request  advertised  in  the  News  and  Observer 
concerning  the  convicts'  holidays  for  Christmas. 

I,  road  superintendent  of  Dry  Wells  Township,  Nash  County,  obeyed  your 
request.  I  have  only  a  small  force  of  nine  convicts.  Two  were  trusties,  whom  I 
had  sworn  by  an  officer  and  let  go  home.     They  both  returned  on  Monday  morning. 

We  are  getting  along  fine  with  our  road  work.  We  have  all  the  roads  worked 
in  the  township  except  four  miles. 

Thanking  you  for  the  holidays  for  the  convicts,  I  remain, 

Yours  truly,  1ST.  D.  Whitfield, 

Road  Superintendent. 

_    _,.    _  T  _  Wilmington,  1ST.  C,  December  28,  1915. 

To  His  Excellency,  Locke  Craig, 

Governor  of  North  Carolina, 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 

Dear  Sir  : — In  compliance  with  instructions  contained  in  last  paragraph  of 

your  letter  of  December  22,  I  have  the  honor  to  present  to  you  herewith  the  names, 

the  sentences  and  the  conduct  of  the  trusties  who  were  paroled  during  the  holidays 

from  this  institution. 

Names                                    Sentences  Conduct 

Oliver  Wade                               12  Months  Good 

Son  Darling                                 5  Years  Good 

Emanuel  Pierce                           5  Years  Good 

Moses  Sharpless                           2  Years  Good 

Randolph  Williamson               13  Months  Good 

Archie  H.  Melton                      12  Months  Good 

George  Frieson                           12  Months  Good 

John  Hennegan                            6  Months  Good 

Henry  McLean                            6  Months  Good 

All  reported  before  9  o'clock  Monday  morning,  December  27th,  and  while  some 
of  them  looked  as  if  they  had  been  drinking,  all  were  sober  and  well  behaved  when 
they  returned.  Yours  very  respectfully, 

F.  M.  Rivenbark, 
Superintendent  New  Hanover  County  Work  House. 

Hon.  Locke  Craig,  Governor,  Hallsboro,  K  C,  December  30,  1915. 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 
Dear  Sir: — In  compliance  with  your  proclamation  of  the  22d  inst.,  authoriz- 
ing the  paroling  the  trusties  for  the  holidays,  I  beg  to  advise  your  excellency  that 
I  paroled  eight  trusties  from  Columbus  County  convict  camp  whose  names  are  as 
follows:  J.  J.  Tyson  (white),  Nathan  Bostic  (colored),  Luther  Barber  (colored), 
Pearl  Graham  (colored),  Jim  Csesar  (colored),  McKinley  Cuffee  (colored),  Oliver 
Lewis  (colored),  Ed  Allen  (colored).  All  returned  not  later  than  12  o'clock,  Mon- 
day, December  27th.  Yours  very  respectfully, 

A.  L.  Griffin, 
Superintendent. 


PAROLE  OF  STATE'S  PRISONERS  179 

Asheboko,  1ST.  C,  January  3,  1916. 
Hon.  Locke  Craig,  Governor, 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 
Dear  Sir  : — I  herewith  hand  you  report  of  J.  C.  Farlow,  superintendent  Ran- 
dolph County  convict  force.     In  our  county  jail  we  had  at  that  time  only  one 
prisoner,  who  is  being  held  for  court  in  default  of  bond. 

Respectfully,  J.  W.  Beekhead,  Sheriff. 

Sophia,  Randolph  County,  K  C,  December  29,  1915. 
Hon.  Locke  Ceaig,  Governor, 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 
Dear  Sir: — On  December  24,  25,  and  26,  I  paroled  one  prisoner,  Pearl  Bal- 
four.    He  returned  and  reported  for  work  on  the  morning  of  December  27th.     As 
far  as  I  can  ascertain  his  conduct  was  good  while  away  from  camp. 

Respectfully,  J.   C  Fablow, 

Superintendent,  Randolph  County  Convict  Camp. 

tt        t    „       n„  ,„    «„„,„„»,„„  Lumbeeton,  N".  C,  December  28,  1915. 

Hon.  Locke  (Jraig,  Lrovernor, 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 
See: — In  reply  to  your  greeting  of  the  prisoners  in  my  charge  I  let  three  go 
home.  All  returned  as  requested  and  I  think  all  seemed  to  like  it  all  right, 
and  reported  a  nice  time.  Those  who  went  home  were :  Gus  Hunt,  John  McCallen 
and  Jesse  McDuffie.  I  had  several  others  but  they  were  boys,  and  I  was  a  little 
afraid  to  let  them  go  off.  Yours  truly,  J.  L.  Teowee, 

Keeper  Gang  No.  1. 

HT  r\  n  Raleigh,  "N.  C  December  28,  1915. 

on.  Locke  Ceaig,  Governor,  >  >  -^^^      c        > 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 

Deae  Sir  : — I  am  glad  to  report  that  every  one  of  the  fifteen  men  released  from 

our  convict  camps  to  go  home  Christmas  returned  on  time.    I  did  not  release  all  the 

so-called  trusties,  as  we  had  some  men  who  could  be  trusted  only  when  near  a 

steward  or  guard,  but  I  let  all  our  honor  roll  men  go.     By  not  letting  those  others 

go  put  us  in  bad  with  them,  but  there  was  no  help  for  it. 

I  suggest  that  nest  time  you  specify  all  honor  roll  men  and  let  the  various 

counties  know  it  in  advance.    They  will  then  be  ready,  and  the  men  themselves  will 

know  why  the  distinction.  Yours  very  truly, 

C.  M.  Millee, 

Wake  County  Highway  Engineer. 

Hon.  Locke  Ceaig,  Governor,  Salisbttet,  K  C,  December  29,  1915. 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 
Dear  Sir  : — Below  is  a  list  of  prisoners  allowed  to  spend  Friday,  Saturday 
and  Sunday  at  home.    I  beg  to  report  that  they  all  came  back  as  ordered. 

Horace  Furr,  D.  L.  Brown,  Charles  Caldwell,  Paul  Goode,  Henry  Click,  Isaiah 
Reynolds,  "Will  Burton,  "Wade  Simmons,  Clarence  Knox,  Paul  Harris,  Paul  Bar- 
ber, Andrew  Kewkirk,  Charles  Baker,  Jim  Wood,  Will  Chunn. 
The  first  two  are  white,  the  others  are  colored. 

Yours  very  truly,  J.  H.  Keider,  Sheriff. 


180        LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

Roxboro,  N.  C,  December  31,  1915. 
To  His  Excellency,  Locke  Craig,  Governor, 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 
Sir: — I  beg  to  report  that  the  only  prisoner  in  Person  County  jail  coming 
within  the  terms  of  your  order  was  D.  M.  Andrews,  serving  a  sentence  for  violating 
the  prohibition  laws,  and  I,  of  course,  released  him  for  the  three  days  specified. 
He  returned  to  prison  promptly.         Respectfully,        K  g_  Th0MPS0N;  Sheriff, 

Hon.  Locke  Craig,  Governor,  Reidsville,  K  C,  December  31,  1915. 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 
Dear  Sir  : — Under  your  general  parole  of  December  22,  I  wish  to  advise  that 
we  have  three  camps  in  this  county.  We  have  prisoners  from  Surry,  Stokes,  Cas- 
well and  Wilkes.  These  prisoners  did  not  have  the  means  to  go  home.  We  gave 
all  three  days  rest,  and  extra  good  meals.  The  camp  foreman  tells  me  they  all 
enjoyed  Christmas.     With  the  compliments  of  the  season. 

Yours  to  command,  Francis  B.  Kemp,  Sheriff. 

Governor  Locke  Craig,  Wilson,  ~N.  C,  December  30,  1915. 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 

My  dear  Sir: — In  reply  to  your  proclamation  of  December  22,  I  have  the 
pleasure  to  report  that  we  have  two  convict  camps  in  this  county,  superintended 
by  John  Herndon  and  Jack  Owens,  respectively.  They  report  to  me  that  from 
their  camps  five  men,  all  colored,  were  given  the  pleasures  you  so  generously  ex- 
tended, and  returned  in  accordance  on  time,  expressing  happiness  at  such  favors, 
to  wit,  that  Governor  Craig  might  always  be  Governor  if  they  were  unfortunate 
enough  to  be  on  the  county  roads  in  North  Carolina. 

As  for  the  jail,  Judge  Bond  had  just  adjourned  court,  which  accounts  for  my 
not  being  able  to  extend  and  favor  your  proclamation  thereto, 

Yours  sincerely,  Howakd  M.  Rowe,  Sheriff. 

Fuquay  Springs,  1ST.  C,  January  7,  1916. 
To  His  Excellency,  Locke  Craig,  Governor, 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 

My  dear  Sir: — I  have  the  honor  to  report  to  you  upon  the  conduct  of  three 
prisoners  (trusties)  whom  I  allowed  to  go  home  to  spend  the  three  holidays  as 
per  your  proclamation.     The  names  of  the  prisoners  follow: 

Joe  Bullock,  sentenced  from  Vance  County,  12  months. 

Ed  Jones,  sentenced  from  Vance  County,  5  months. 

Frank  Hayes,  sentenced  from  Vance  County,  6  months. 

All  returned  on  time.  The  conduct  of  Joe  Bullock,  I  think,  deserves  special 
mention  and  notice.  He  left  his  home  to  return  to  eamp  on  Monday  morning, 
leaving  his  baby  brother,  14  years  old,  a  corpse  of  only  an  hour.  I  asked  him  why 
he  did  not  wire  me  for  permission  to  stay  to  the  funeral.  He  replied  that  his 
word  and  honor  were  pledged  to  me  and  he  was  determined  to  keep  it. 

This  is  only  a  small  road  camp.  I  handled  prisoners  for  several  years  in 
Georgia,  and  my  experience  is  that  a  very  small  per  cent  will  deceive  you  if  put 
upon  honor.  I  keep  one  to  two  guards,  as  much  for  avoiding  adverse  criticism 
as  to  hold  the  prisoners.  I  treat  them  well,  feed  them  well,  and  work  them  well. 
I  do  not  allow  any  abusive  or  profane  language  used  toward  them,  which  they 
seem  to  appreciate.  Yours  very  truly,  ^  A.  Sexton. 


PAROLE  OF  STATE'S  PRISONERS  181 

(3) 
PAROLE  OF  STATE'S  PRISONERS,  CHRISTMAS,  1916 


State  of  !N"orth  Carolina 

Executive  Department 

Raleigh 


December  20,  1916. 


To  the  Superintendent  of  the  State's  Prison, 

The  Sheriffs  of  the  Counties  of  North  Carolina,  and 

To  the  Officers  in  charge  of  Convict  Camps  and  Forces. 

Greetings  : — You  are  hereby  authorized  and  requested  to  allow  each  and  every 
prisoner  who  is  and  has  been  a  trusty  for  ten  days  prior  to  this  date  to  return  to  his 
home  or  other  place  chosen  by  him,  and  to  remain  away  from  the  camp  or  prison 
during  Sunday,  Monday,  and  Tuesday,  the  24th,  25th,  and  26th  of  December,  pro- 
vided each  trusty  pledge  his  honor  and  satisfy  the  officer  in  charge  that  he  will 
return  by  twelve  o'clock  on  Wednesday,  December  the  27th. 

You  are  further  authorized  and  requested  to  give  to  all  of  the  prisoners  in 
your  charge  a  holiday  on  Sunday,  Monday,  and  Tuesday,  the  24th,  25th,  and  26th 
of  December. 

You  are  furthermore  directed  and  requested  to  report  to  me  on  or  before  the 
first  day  of  January  your  action  in  accordance  herewith  and  the  results,  and  the 
name  and  conduct  of  each  prisoner  paroled. 

A  request  and  authority  similar  to  this  was  issued  in  December,  1915.     It  was 

universally  observed  by  sheriffs  and  officers.    The  prisoners  that  were  paroled  kept 

their  promise  with  scrupulous  fidelity,  and  showed  that  they  were  worthy  of  the 

confidence  and  trust.  T„„       n 

Locke  (Jraig, 

Governor. 


(4) 

REPORTS  OF  SHERIFFS  ON  RESULTS  OF  PAROLE 

Note. — Up  to  the  time  of  going  to  press  not  all  the  sheriffs  had  been  heard  from,  but 
the  letters  received  indicate  that  a  large  number  of  prisoners  were  paroled — probably  a 
good  many  more  than  were  paroled  last  year — and  that  three  of  them  have  not  returned 
according  to  promise. 

The  State's  Prison 

Governor  Locke  Craig,  Raleigh,  E".  C,  December  29,  1916. 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 

Dear  Governor  :— In  accordance  with  the  order  contained  in  your  proclama- 
tion paroling  prisoners  for  three  days  during  the  Christmas  holidays,  including 
Christmas  day,  I  have  the  honor  to  make  to  you  the  following  report: 

There  were  all  told  67  State  prisoners  paroled  according  to  your  request.  I 
have  now  received  reports  from  the  supervisors  at  all  points  in  which  State  prison- 
ers are  employed,  and  beg  to  say  that  two  only  out  of  the  total  number  paroled 


182        LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

violated  the  conditions  and  terms  of  their  parole.  These  were  white  men  who  were 
released  from  the  State  farm  by  Capt.  C.  N".  Christian.  They  are  Wallace  Brad- 
ley, from  Swain  County,  under  a  sentence  of  sixteen  years  for  murder  in  the  second 
degree,  who  was  received  here  in  1912,  and  Littleton  Bright,  from  Warren  County, 
serving  a  sentence  of  fifteen  years  for  murder  in  the  second  degree,  who  was 
received  here  in  1913.  These  two  prisoners  had  not  returned  on  December  28th, 
and  no  word  had  been  received  from  them  by  Mr.  Christian,  and  he  had  no  reason 
to  believe  that  they  would  return  and  did  not  expect  them  to  do  so.  We  will,  of 
course,  treat  these  two  prisoners  as  escaped  convicts  and  offer  for  them  the  usual 
reward  for  escaped  prisoners,  and  use  our  best  efforts  to  rearrest  and  return  them 
to  the  prison. 

Without  any  exception  the  prisoners  who  were  paroled  seemed  to  greatly  appre- 
ciate the  privilege,  and  many  of  them  have  expressed  their  thanks  to  you  for  their 
holiday  liberty.    I  am,  Yours  very  truly,  J.  S.  Mann, 

Superintendent. 

Hon.  Locke  Craig,  Governor,  Burlington,  N.  C,  December  30,  1916. 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 
Dear  Governor  Craig  : — We  had  the  following  convicts  off  for  Christmas : 
Lee  Hilliard  (white),  Lawrence  Sutton  (white),  Ab  Causey  (white),  William 
Smith  (white),  L.  C.  Crater  (colored),  Chot  Holt  (colored),  Morris  Graves  (col- 
ored). Live  came  back  all  right.  Chot  Holt  was  arrested  for  being  drunk  in  the 
street.  One  man  not  well,  hasn't  come;  but  his  wife  came  and  said  he  would  be 
back  as  soon  as  he  was  able.     He  lives  near  stockade. 

Bespectfully  submitted,  G.  A.  Fogleman, 

Superintendent  of  Roads. 

Wadesboro,  1ST.  C,  December  29,  1916. 
Honorable  Governor  : — I  will  tell  you  about  my  prisoners :  T.  J.  Flake 
(white),  Mood  Turner  (white),  Milt  Tilman  (colored),  Archie  Davis  (colored), 
Sam  Rowie  (colored),  Will  Turner  (colored),  Will  Crump  (colored),  Wiley  Smith 
(colored),  Brack  Gaddy  (colored),  Will  Gaddy  (colored),  Frank  Little  (colored), 
Lonnie  Home  (colored),  Raymond  Bennett  (colored).     Every  one  came  back. 

Yours  truly,  M.  B.  Howell, 

Superintendent  of  Roads. 

Hon.  Locke  Craig,  Windsor,  N.  C,  December  29,  1916. 

Governor  of  North  Carolina. 
Dear  Governor: — I  beg  to  submit  to  you  the  following  report  and  names  of 
prisoners  that  were  released  to  spend  Christinas  at  home,  namely:  York  White, 
Dave  White,  Robert  Hoggard,  Ed.  Freeman,  Joe  Smith,  Wiley  Smith,  Bill  Heck- 
stall,  Sills  Miller,  Tom  Coffield,  William  Smallwood,  William  Gatting,  Buck  Small- 
wood,  and  Dukes  Hoggard.  All  of  these  prisoners  have  returned  and  behaved 
themselves. 

Hoping  you  a  prosperous  New  Year,  I  am,  Very  truly  yours, 

J.  W.  Cooper, 

Sheriff. 


PAROLE  OF  STATE'S  PRISONERS  183 

Governor  Locke  Craig,  Efland,  JN".  O,  December  29,  1916. 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 
Honored  Sir  : — All  convicts  in  my  camp  returned  promptly,  after  their  Christ- 
mas at  home.  Yours  very  truly,  A.  W.  Clark, 

Supervisor,  Orange  County  Roads. 

Asheville,  1ST.  C,  January  1,  1917. 
Hon.  Locke  Craig,  Governor. 

Dear  Sir  : — You  will  please  find  the  report  of  the  trusties  that  went  to  their 
homes  for  Christmas  and  holidays.  They  all  returned  except  one  white  man, 
Harris  Debrew.  He  assaulted  a  man  by  striking  him  with  a  bottle,  and  was 
arrested  by  a  policeman. 

The  names  of  the  white  men:  Adam  Wheeler,  C.  C.  Coon,  Harris  Debrew, 
Harley  Gausnell,  James  Johnson,  Otto  Munsey,  Andy  Webb. 

The  names  of  the  colored :  Kid  Wills,  Frank  Angle,  Charles  Logan,  John  Scott, 
Will  Williams,  Arthur  Booker,  Preston  Gibson,  Mont.  Wofford,  Henry  Roberts, 
Harry  Morris,  J.  1ST.  Edwards. 

Governor,  I  am  truly  sorry  your  term  is  about  to  expire.  I  would  be  glad  if 
you  could  or  would  be  our  Governor  the  next  four  years. 

E.  M.  Mitchell,  Sheriff. 

Hon.  Locke  Craig,  Governor,  Durham,  N.  C,  December  28,  1916. 

Raleigh,  N.  0. 

Deae  Sir  : — I  beg  leave  to  report  that,  according  to  your  instruction  I  allowed 
four  trusties  to  leave  the  work  house  in  Durham  County,  to  spend  three  days  of 
the  Christmas  holidays. 

All  three  have  returned,  but  not  as  promptly  as  last  year. 

Very  respectfully,  E.  D.  Couch, 

Superintendent  Workhouse. 

Lexington,  1ST.  C,  December  30,  1916. 
To  His  Excellency,  Locke  Craig,  Governor, 

Raleigh,  N.   C. 

Dear  Sir  : — In  response  to  yours  of  the  20th  of  December.  I  wish  to  make 
the  following  report: 

Billy  Homes,  of  Barnwell,  S.  C,  serving  a  term  of  fifteen  months,  returned 
Wednesday  at  11  o'clock.    Behavior  good. 

H.  V.  Smith,  of  JNTasheville,  Tenn.,  serving  term  of  six  months,  returned 
Tuesday  at  12  o'clock.     Behavior  good. 

Sam  Hoover,  of  Thomasville,  N.  C,  serving  term  of  ten  years,  returned  Tues- 
day at  12  o'clock.     Behavior  good. 

Floyd  Lee,  of  Lexington,  IS".  C,  serving  term  of  two  years,  returned  Tuesday 
at  12  o'clock.    Behavior  good. 

Each  prisoner  wishes  to  extend  to  you  thanks  for  this  parole.  Wishing  you 
the  very  happiest  of  New  Years,  I  beg  to  remain  your  humble  servant. 

T.  W.  Miller, 

Superintendent. 


184   LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

Hon.  Locke  Craig,  Governor,  Durham,  N.  C,  December  28,  1916. 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 
Dear  Sir: — I  beg  leave  to  report  tbat,  according  to  your  instructions  issued 
to  tbe  Superintendents  of  county  road  convict  camps,  I  allowed  to  go  borne  and 
spend  tbree  days  of  tbe  Cbristmas  bolidays,  December  24,-26,  twenty-two  trusties. 
All  of  tbese  men  returned  by  noon  of  tbe  27tb,  witb  tbe  exception  of  two.  Jobn 
Williams  (colored)  returned  at  6  :30  p.  m.  on  tbe  27tb.  Tbe  otber,  Wesley  Perry 
(wbite),  bas  not  returned  yet.     Please  advise  me  wbat  to  do  in  tbis  case. 

I  am  sorry  to  say  tbat  none  of  tbe  trusties  did  as  well  this  time  as  tbey  did 
last  year  in  returning  to  tbe  camp,  as  tbey  waited  till  tbe  last  minute,  or  most 
of  them.    All  reported  having  a  good  time.  Very  respectfully, 

J.  M.  Pollard, 
Superintendent  Roads. 

Concord,  N".  C,  December  29,  1916. 
To  His  Excellency,  Governor  Craig: 

Complying  with  your  letter  dated  December  20,  1916,  would  say  we  let  off 
the  following  men  for  three  days :  Joe  Pless,  Sam  Ellis,  Alex  Tyson,  John  Alex- 
ander, and  B.  H.  Hardaway.  Alex  Tyson  did  not  go  home  as  he  lives  in  Moore 
County,  but  he  was  let  go  wherever  he  wanted.  All  conducted  themselves  fine  and 
reported  at  camp  Wednesday  morning.  Yours  very  truly, 

H.  W.  Caldwell,  Sheriff. 

Hon.  Locke  Craig,  Governor,  Lexington,  1ST.  C,  January  1,  1917. 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 
Dear  Sir: — I   gave  pass  letters  to  Mr.   Tom.   Miller,   Superintendent  of  the 
chaingang.     He  tells  me  all  tbe  prisoners  returned,  and  that  they  are  very  grate- 
ful to  you  for  tbe  kindness  shown  them.     Mr.  Miller  wrote  you  last  night. 

Yours  truly,  A.  T.  Delap,  Sheriff. 

To  the  Governor:  Louisburg,  1ST.  C,  December  28,  1916. 

Your  order  of  authority  of  December  20th,  duly  received.  Same  was  read 
to  the  superintendent  of  the  convict  camp  of  this  county.  He  paroled  Henry 
Leonard  and  Wesley  Burrell.  Tbey  both  made  satisfactory  records  and  returned 
to  camp  within  the  time  limit,  sober  and  well  pleased  with  their  holiday  so  kindly 
given  them  by  you.  Respectfully,  H.  A.  Kearney,  Sheriff. 

To  His  Excellency,  Governor  Craig,  Oxford,  N".  C,  December  30,  1916. 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 

Honored  Sir  : — I  beg  to  report  tbat  under  your  order  I  released  two  trusties  for 
the  holidays  from  the  Granville  County  convict  road  force.  Both  of  them  re- 
turned for  duty  promptly  and  went  to  work.  No  complaint  has  been  heard 
against  them  while  away  from  camp.  Very  respectfully, 

R.  A.  Jones, 
Superintendent  of  Roads. 


PAROLE  OF  STATE'S  PRISONERS  185 

Winston-Salem,  N.  C,  December  30,  1916. 
Hon.  Locke  Craig,  Raleigh,  N.  C. 

Dear  Governor  : — In  pursuance  with  your  request,  I  released  the  following 
convicts  from  custody  on  Sunday,  December  24th,  to  return  to  camp  on  December 
27th,  noon :  George  House,  Buck  Patterson,  John  Banks,  Pinckney  Person,  Asbury 
Sparks,  Colen  Lee,  Arthur  Stewart,  Russell  Denny,  "Will  Archie,  Lee  Stafford. 
Will  Hairston,  James  Young  (colored),  and  James  Hicks  (white).  All  of  the 
above  men  returned  promptly,  and  deported  themselves  honorably  during  their 
absence.  Tours  very  truly,  R.  T.  Joyce, 

Superintendent  Convict  Forces. 

Hon.  Locke  Craig,  Governor,  Statesville,  N".  C,  January  1,  1917. 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 
Dear   Governor  : — I   complied  with  your   request   of   December   20,   and   am 
pleased  to  state  that  each  and  every  trusty  returned  at  the  time  appointed. 
Wishing  you  a  very  prosperous  and  happy  New  Year,  I  am, 

Yours,  M.  P.  Alexander,  Sheriff. 

Governor  Locke  Craig,  Smithfield,  N.  C,  December  30,  1916. 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 
My  Dear  Sir: — I  herewith  make  this  report  for  prisoners  given  chance  to  go 
home  Christmas :  two  white  men,  A.  A.  Massingill  and  Thomas  Wallace,  were  let 
go.  Massingill  stayed  at  the  camp  at  night,  visited  over  in  town  each  day.  He 
preferred  that  as  he  only  had  five  days  to  serve  after  that.  Wallace  went  home. 
Both  were  in  place  at  the  time  specified.  Two  black  men,  Barney  Stevens  and 
Juddie  Conner,  went  home  and  came  back  on  time. 

I  think,  Governor,  your  idea  of  giving  them  this  privilege  has  its  influence 
for  good  not  only  with  the  men  who  go  home  but  with  the  entire  force.  Wishing 
you  good  health  and  much  happiness  with  peace  and  prosperity,  I  am, 

Yours  truly,  George  L.  Jones, 

Superintendent  Township  Roads. 

Wilmington,  1ST.  C,  December  30,  1916. 
His  Excellency  Locke  Craig,  Governor, 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 
Dear  Sir: — In  compliance  with  instructions  contained  in  your  circular  letter 
dated  December  20th,  I  have  the  honor  to  report  that  the  men  named  below  were 
allowed  to  go  home  during  the  holidays;  that  their  conduct  was,  as  far  as  known 
to  me,  good;  and  that  all  of  them  returned  at  the  appointed  time:  Washington 
McNeal,  W.  J.  Richardson,  Bob  Harris,  Oscar  Johnson,  Charles  McAlpine,  Frank 
Pears,  Will  Brown,  John  Cooper,  M.  C.  Jones,  Foster  Simpson,  Rufus  Howe, 
George  Mandy,  George  Galloway,  Moses  Sharpless,  Ed  Austin. 

Last  year  ten  were  allowed  from  this  institution.  All  returned  promptly. 
This  year  it  was  extended  to  fifteen  with  the  same  pleasing  results. 

Yours  very  truly,  Fred  M.  Rivenbark, 

Superintendent  Workhouse. 


186        LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

Hon.  Locke  Craig,  Snow  Hill,  1ST.  C,  January  2,  1917. 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 
Dear  Sir  : — We  would,  according  to  your  instructions,  report  that  we  let  go 
for  the  Christmas  the  following  named  trusties  doing  service  on  the  roads  of 
Greene  County:  John  Koonce,  John  Swinson  and  Richard  Mays;  that  they  all 
returned  on  time,  and  that  their  conduct  when  out  on  parole  was  a  very  fine  in- 
dorsement of  your  Excellency's  very  worthy  course.  We  believe  that  you  have 
been  the  originator  of  an  idea  which  will  wear  well  and  find  following  in  other 
states.    We  remain,  Most  truly  yours, 

J.  E.  Herring,  Sheriff. 
J.  M.  Nipper, 
Superintendent  Camps  and  Roads. 

Henderson ville,  N.  C,  January  1,  1917. 
Governor  of  North  Carolina, 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 
My  Dear  Sir  : — Your  order  was  obeyed,  but  I  was  delayed  in  sending  in  my 
report,  as  the  boss  of  the  chain  gang  was  some  distance  out.     He  reports  to  me 
the  names  of  prisoners  he  let  go  home  through  the  holidays,   as  follows :     Ed 
Bridgemar,  W.  M.  Lorance,  Bo  Ponders,  Babe  Copeland. 

I  only  had  at  that  time  three  darkies  in  jail.  I  took  them  out  for  an  auto  ride 
about  two  hours  and  they  enjoyed  it  finely. 

The  men  on  the  gang  returned  on  time.     It  worked  all  O.  K. 

Y  ours  truly,  M.  Allard  Case,  Sheriff. 

Hon.  Locke  Craig,  Governor,  Mount  Airy,  N.  C,  January  1,  1917. 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 
Sir  : — I  had  only  one  trusty,  Fred  Poore.     He  was  allowed  to  go  home  on  De- 
cember 24th.    He  returned  to  prison,  Wednesday,  the  27th. 

W.  G.  Belton,  Sheriff. 

Hon.  Locke  Craig,  Governor,  Salisbury,  N.  C,  December  28,  1916. 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 

Dear  Sir: — The  following  named  prisoners  of  Rowan  County  were  released 
for  Christmas,  as  per  your  orders : 

Chain-gang  No.  1. — There  were  six  released,  as  follows :  D.  L.  Beasley,  Cal 
Earnhardt,  Frank  Brady,  Ed.  Litaker,  Will  Massey,  and  Will  Marlow.  All 
returned  as  per  instructions. 

Camp  No.  2. — There  were  eight  released,  as  follows :  Paul  Harris,  John  Henry 
Hill,  Son  Simmons,  Price  Hayes,  Paul  Barber,  Jim  Clark,  S.  S.  Willis,  and 
Charlie  Baker.  All  returned  except  two.  These  were  S.  S.  Willis  and  Charlie 
Baker.    Willis  had  three  months  to  serve  and  Baker  had  eleven  months  not  served. 

At  the  county  work  house  there  were  six  released,  as  follows :  Mag  Allman, 
Margie  Menins,  Lewis  Reedy,  Willie  Stevenson,  Napoleon  Aggues,  and  Ed.  Car- 
line.     These  all  came  back  as  per  instructions.  Very  truly  yours, 

J.  H.  Keeper,  Sheriff. 


PAROLE  OF  STATE'S  PRISONERS  187 

Hon.  Locke  Craig,  Asheboro,  N".  C,  December  30,  1916. 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 
Dear  Sir: — In  answer  to  yours  of  the  20th  inst.,  we  allowed  the  prisoners  of 
Eandolph   County  to   take  Monday  and  Tuesday,   for  holidays   and  begin   work 
Wednesday  morning,  December  27.     We  have  no  trusties  at  this  time,  and  there- 
fore, not  any  one  was  released  during  the  holidays. 

Yours  very  truly,  J.  F.  Hughes,  Sheriff. 

Hon.  Locke  Craig,  Governor,  Hillsboro,  1ST.  C,  January  1,  1917. 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 
Hon.  Sir  : — I  am  pleased  to  advise  that  the  following  prisoners  were  allowed 
freedom  for  December  24,  25  and  26,  each  one  returning  to  his  work  promptly 
after  the  expiration  of  these  days,  namely:  Boby  O'Briant,  Eick  Adkins,   Jim 
Roland,  Jim  Edwards,  George  Woods,  Richard  Alston. 

Very  respectfully,  Charles  G.  Rosemond,  Sheriff. 

Hon.  Locke  Craig,  Rocky  Mount,  N".  C,  December  30,  1916. 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 

Dear  Sir  : — In  accordance  with  your  request,  I  beg  to  say  that  I  released  five 
trusties  from  this  camp.  All  returned  promptly.  Their  conduct  was  good. 
Names  as  follows:  Joe  Bissett  (white),  Henry  Tant  (white),  Sherman  Robeson 
(colored),  Will  Sessoms  (colored),  Sam  Willey  (colored). 

Very  truly  yours,  W.  B.  Rose, 

Superintendent. 

Governor  Locke  Craig,  Brevard,  N".  C,  December  30,  1916. 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 
My  dear  Sir  : — I  am  sending  you  herewith  list  of  convicts  who  were  released 
and  returned  during  the  holidays :  Edward  C.  Ward,  Albert  Rackan,  John  H.  Reid, 
Fate  Enight,  F.  M.  Bunid,  K"oah  Troy,  Eunci  Jackson,  John  Griffin,  George  Orr. 
Jule  Eilgore,  and  Percy  Thomas.  Yours  very  truly, 

Cos  Paston,  Sheriff. 

Hon.  Locke  Craig,  Governor,  Goldsboro,  N".  C,  January  2,  1917. 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 
Dear  Sie: — I  herewith  report  number  of  convicts  allowed  leaves  of  absence  for 
Christmas:  Howard  Bathais,  Oscar  Faison,  Dick  Simmons,  Elliott  Grantham.     All 
took  advantage  of  the  leave  given  them,  except  one,  Dick  Simmons,  who  preferred 
to  remain  at  camp ;  and  all  returned  on  time.  Very  truly, 

Sam  D.  Scott, 
Highway  Engineer. 


(VI) 
STATE'S  PRISONERS 


IN  REGARD  TO  HIRING  THEM  TO  CERTAIN  RAILROADS  WITHIN  THE  STATE. 
REPLY  TO  INQUIRY  OF  HON.  HENRY  A.  PAGE 


HIRING  STATE'S  PRISONERS  TO  CERTAIN  RAILROADS.    REPLY  TO 
INQUIRY  OF  HON.  HENRY  A.  PAGE 

State  op  North  Carolina 

Executive  Department 

Raleigh 

February  12,  1915. 
Hon.  Henry  A.  Page, 

Raleigh,  N.   C. 

My  Dear  Mr.  Page: — Your  letter  delivered  to  me  on  the  9th  in  regard  to  the 
leasing  of  convicts  to  the  Elkin  and  Alleghany  Railroad  Company  would  have 
been  answered  sooner,  but  for  the  demands  of  other  business. 

I  have  given  careful  consideration  to  your  inquiry  as  to  what  construction  I 
place  upon  Section  20  of  the  act  constituting  the  charter  of  the  Elkin  and  Alleghany 
Railroad,  making  the  approval  of  the  Governor  a  prerequisite  to  the  assignment  of 
convicts  to  this  road.     In  your  letter  you  construe  the  act  as  follows : 

"Whenever  in  the  exercise  of  his  (the  Governor's)  sound  discretion  he 
finds  as  a  fact  that  the  commodity  to  be  received  in  payment  for  the  labor  of 
these  convicts  is  actually  and  really  and  truly  worth  its  face  value  in  money, 
then,  and  not  until  then,  can  he  be  permitted  to  accept  same  in  payment 
under  the  act  quoted,  as  modified  and  controlled  by  the  Constitution  of  the 
State.  There  is  nothing  else  that  he  can  possibly  be  supposed  to  use  discre- 
tion about.  I  therefore  think  it  is  perfectly  clear  that  the  intention  of  the 
General  Assembly  of  1907  was  to  authorize  the  exchange  of  convicts  for 
stock  in  the  Elkin  and  Alleghany  Railroad  when,  and  only  when,  the  Gov- 
ernor should  be  entirely  satisfied  that  such  stock  was  worth  its  face  value 
in  money." 

I  cannot  agree  with  your  interpretation  of  this  law.  I  am  satisfied  that  the 
Legislature  not  only  did  not  have  the  intention  stated  by  you,  but  that  it  had  the 
very  opposite  intention.  There  is  nothing  in  the  language  of  the  act  to  warrant 
your  conclusion.  If  the  General  Assembly  had  such  intention  it  certainly  should 
and  would  have  expressed  it.  When  the  act  was  before  the  General  Assembly,  the 
pay  for  the  convicts  was  the  principal  question  considered.  This  was  the  distinc- 
tive feature  of  the  act.  The  purpose  of  Section  20  was  to  enable  the  Elkin  and 
Alleghany  Railroad  Company  to  obtain  the  use  of  convicts,  and  to  pay  the  State 
therefor  in  stock  that  was  not  "actually  and  really  and  truly  worth  its  face  value 
in  money."  By  this  means  the  State  would  assist  the  people  of  that  remote  sec- 
tion to  get  a  railroad.  It  had  assisted  other  sections  to  get  railroads.  If  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  had  authorized  the  appropriation  of  convicts  to  the  Elkin  and 
Alleghany  only  upon  the  condition  that  they  should  be  paid  for  in  stock  that  was 
"actually  and  really  and  truly  worth  its  face  value  in  money,"  this  section  of  the 
act  would  have  been  of  no  assistance  in  building  the  road,  and  would  have  conferred 
no  benefit  upon  that  section  of  the  State.  Neither  Governor  Glenn  nor  Governor 
Kitchin  nor  I  read  into  this  act  the  meaning  that  you  contend  for;  but,  on  the 
contrary,  three  Governors  in  succession  have  interpreted  the  act  to  mean  what  it 


192        LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

says,  to  wit :  That  available  convicts  be  assigned  to  this  road,  and  the  stock  of  the 
railroad  company  taken  as  pay  tberefor,  although  this  stock  is  not  "actually  and 
really  and  truly  worth  its  face  value  in  money."  This  whole  situation  was  clearly 
understood  by  the  General  Assembly  of  1907  that  passed  the  act,  and  since  then 
four  General  Assemblies  have  met.  All  have  acquiesced  without  question  in  the 
construction  placed  upon  this  law  by  the  different  Governors.  Two  of  the  General 
Assemblies  have  indorsed  the  present  policy,  after  full  investigation  and  discussion. 
This  stock  has  been  received  in  payment  for  convicts  by  the  State  Treasurer  since 
1907.  It  has  always  been  conceded  that  it  has  no  market  value,  and,  that  it  may 
never  have  any  value.  This  is  shown  by  the  report  of  the  State  Treasurer.  It 
was  stated  in  my  message  to  the  General  Assembly,  and  you  state  in  your  letter 
that  such  is  "the  practical  admission  of  the  fact  by  every  one  of  the  gentlemen 
now  defending  the  deal  before  committees  and  the  Senate."  These  conditions  have 
been  thoroughly  understood  since  1907  by  all  persons  informed  on  the  subject,  and 
no  citizen  of  the  State,  and  no  General  Assembly  has  ever  before  sought  to  place 
your  construction  upon  the  charter  of  the  Elkin  and  Alleghany  Railroad.  The  pres- 
ent Senate,  by  an  overwhelming  majority,  declines  to  adopt  your  view  on  a  clear- 
cut  presentation  of  the  question,  and  the  present  House  of  Representatives  is  so 
pronounced  against  your  construction  of  this  law  that  you  have  decided,  as  I  am 
informed,  not  to  contend  further  before  that  body,  of  which  your  are  a  member. 
This  General  Assembly,  now  in  session,  after  full  discussion,  has  refused  to  require 
money  value  for  these  convicts.  In  the  face  of  these  facts  I  cannot  conclude  that 
this  General  Assembly,  nor  that  any  other  General  Assembly,  intended  that  this 
railroad  should  have  convicts  "when,  and  only  when,  the  Governor  should  be 
entirely  satisfied  that  such  stock  was  worth  its  face  value  in  money."  The  moving 
consideration  for  the  appropriation  by  the  State  of  these  convicts  to  aid  in  the 
construction  of  these  roads  is  not  the  stock  in  the  railroad  companies.  The  real 
compensation  to  the  State  is  the  prospective  development  of  rich  and  inaccessible 
sections  inhabited  by  a  portion  of  our  citizenship  desiring  and  deserving  the  facili- 
ties of  communication  and  transportation  with  other  portions  of  the  State.  It 
seems  to  me  that  this  is  thoroughly  understood  and  well  established. 

Nor  can  I  treat  this  statute  as  a  nullity  because  in  conflict  with  the  Constitution. 
It  is  not,  as  I  conceive,  the  prerogative  of  the  Governor,  nor  even  of  the  courts,  to 
declare  acts  of  the  General  Assembly  unconstitutional  and  void,  except  in  clear 
and  extreme  cases.  It  is  the  Governor's  duty  not  to  disregard,  but  to  execute,  the 
laws  made  by  the  people,  and  by  the  representatives  of  the  people. 

"When  the  Constitutional  Convention  of  1875  ordained  that  "The  General 
Assembly  shall  have  no  power  to  give  or  lend  the  credit  of  the  State  in  the  aid  of 
any  person,  association  or  corporation,"  it  doubtless  had  in  mind  the  millions  of 
fraudulent  bonds  issued  by  the  Reconstruction  Legislature  for  the  pretended  pur- 
pose of  building  railroads.  Does  this  section  of  the  Constitution  prohibit  the 
Legislature  from  aiding  remote  sections  of  the  State  in  securing  railroad  facilities 
by  the  leasing  of  convicts,  when  no  obligation  is  incurred  by  the  State,  although 
the  stock  paid  for  these  convicts  may  not  be  worth  its  face  value  in  money?  Able 
lawyers  differ  as  to  the  meaning  of  this  section  of  the  Constitution,  and  as  to  its 
application  to  this  situation. 

In  passing  upon  the  appropriation  of  these  convicts  to  the  Elkin  and  Alleghany 
Railroad  and  to  other  roads,  there  are  many  considerations  to  influence  the  discre- 
tion of  the  Governor,  or  the  board  clothed  with  such  discretion:  the  feasibility  of 


HIRING  STATE'S  PRISONERS  TO  RAILROADS  193 

the  enterprise,  the  extent  of  the  benefits,  the  condition  and  requirements  of  the 
prison,  and  many  other  things  might  enter  into  the  consideration  of  the  Governor 
or  the  board  making  the  appropriation. 

I  am  not  responsible  for  the  present  policy.  The  General  Assembly  is  respon- 
sible. I  expect  to  exercise  the  power  and  discretion  vested  in  me  in  accordance 
with  what  I  conceive  to  be  the  will  of  the  General  Assembly,  with  due  regard  for 
the  economic  management  of  the  prison  and  the  rights  of  all  concerned.  I  shall 
not  order  the  withdrawal  of  the  convicts  from  the  railroads  on  the  grounds  con- 
tended for  in  your  letter.  I  am  satisfied  that  such  is  not  the  will  of  the  General 
Assembly.  If  the  power  to  appropriate  these  convicts  be  continued  in  the  Gover- 
nor, I  shall  continue  the  present  policy  to  aid  inaccessible  sections  in  obtaining 
railroad  facilities,  provided  I  am  assured  that  these  railraods  will  be  built  to 
points  that  will  benefit  the  remote  sections,  that  the  railroad  companies  will  do 
their  part,  and  that  the  enterprise  is  conducted  in  good  faith  for  the  benefit  of 
those  sections  that  the  State  desires  to  help  and  to  develop.  I  shall  at  all  times 
act  as  the  situation  may  require,  and  withdraw  the  convicts,  provided  their  with- 
drawal be  advisable  after  considering  all  the  circumstances. 

The  Board  of  Prison  Directors  is  the  proper  authority  to  administer  all  of  the 
affairs  of  the  prison,  including  the  appropriation  of  these  convicts.  I  therefore 
recommended  in  my  message  to  the  General  Assembly  that  the  power  and  discretion 
now  vested  in  the  Governor  and  Council  of  State  as  to  the  appropriation  of  these 
convicts  be  vested  in  the  Board  of  Prison  Directors.  Whether  this  act  be  passed 
or  not,  I  would  not  avoid  responsibility  for  what  has  been  done  in  the  appropria- 
tion of  these  convicts,  or  for  what  may  be  done. 

I  deem  it  my  duty  as  Governor  to  make  a  full  and  candid  reply  to  your  letter 
and  to  give  you  my  reasons  for  the  position  which  I  have  taken. 

Tours  truly, 

Locke  Craig, 

Governor. 


13 


(vn) 

FRAUDULENT  AND  REPUDIATED  NORTH 
CAROLINA  BONDS 


FRAUDULENT  AND  REPUDIATED  NORTH  CAROLINA 

BONDS 

1.  Reply  to  Inquiry  from  Governor  Major  of  Missouri. 

2.  Petition  of  the  Republic  of  Cuba  to  Bring  Suit  Against  the 

State. 

3.  Letter  from  Cuban-American  Society,  and  reply  thereto. 


(1) 

REPLY  TO  INQUIRY  FROM  GOVERNOR  MAJOR  OF  MISSOURI 

United  States  Senate 
"Washington,  D.  C. 
Hon.  Locke  Craig,  January  12,  1916. 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 

My  deae  Goveenoe: — Today  Governor  Major  of  Missouri  called  upon  me  and 
stated  that  some  syndicate  had  offered  to  give  the  State  of  Missouri  a  large  batch 
of  North  Carolina  bonds  issued  about  April,  1869,  signed  Holden,  Governor,  and 
Jenkins,  Treasurer.  He  said  he  was  personally  very  much  opposed  to  accepting 
this  donation,  but  that  the  Legislature  of  that  State  had  created  a  board  composed 
of  the  Governor,  Treasurer  and  Attorney-General,  and  conferred  upon  it  the  power 
to  accept  or  reject  donations  offered  to  the  State,  and  he  wished  me  to  give  him 
information  with  reference  to  the  so-called  bonds,  so  that  he  might  submit  the  facts 
to  his  associates  on  this  board. 

The  Governor  did  not  say  what  conditions  were  attached  to  the  gift,  but  I 
assume,  of  course,  that  one  of  them  was  that  the  State  should  bring  suit  to  test 
the  validity  of  the  bonds. 

I  have  in  my  possession  a  printed  document  containing  an  open  letter  written 
by  Capt.  S.  A.  Ashe,  dated  June  26,  1905,  to  the  Hon.  John  G.  Carlisle  (then  of 
New  York  City  and  attorney  for  the  bond  syndicate  holding  these  so-called  bonds), 
replying  to  some  published  statements  made  by  Mr.  Carlisle  and  one  Andrews,  who 
in  some  way,  with  Carlisle,  represented  this  syndicate.  This  letter  of  Captain 
Ashe's  goes  very  fully  into  the  history  of  the  Legislature  which  issued  these  bonds 
and  of  the  bonds  themselves.  I  promised  Governor  Major  to  send  him  this  docu- 
ment, which  I  will  do  immediately;  and  also  that  I  would  write  you  requesting 
that  you  communicate  with  him  upon  the  subject.  I  also  send  you  herewith  a  copy 
of  the  document  referred  to  above. 

"With  assurances  of  high  esteem,  I  am  Very  truly  yours, 

F.  M.  Simmons. 

State  of  North  Caeolina 
Executive  Depaetment 
Raleigh 
His  Excellency,  The  Governor,  January  21,  1916. 

Jefferson  City,  Mo. 
My  dear  Governor  Major: — I  have  been  informed  that  certain  parties  have 
offered  to  present  to  the  State  of  Missouri  some  old  North  Carolina  bonds  which 
have  been  repudiated.  These  bonds  are  what  are  known  as  "Reconstruction 
Bonds."  They  were  issued  in  the  days  of  Reconstruction,  and  were  designed  and 
sold  in  fraud  and  corruption.     The  people  got  no  value  for  them. 

It  has  come  to  me  that  you  do  not  look  with  favor  upon  the  acceptance  of  these 
bonds  by  your  State  in  order  that  suit  might  be  brought  against  the  State  of  North 
Carolina.    On  behalf  of  our  people  I  desire  to  thank  you  personally  for  this  attitude 


198   LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

that  you  have  taken.  I  am  enclosing  a  paper  written  by  Captain  S.  A.  Ashe, 
giving  the  history  of  these  bonds,  and  showing  that  we  are  under  no  obligation  to 
pay  them. 

The  Constitutional  Convention  of  1875  declared  an  ordinance  forever  protect- 
ing the  State  against  these  bonds  by  providing  that  no  legislature  should  have  the 
power  to  pay  them. 

Again  thanking  you,  and  with  the  highest  regards  I  am 

Yours  sincerely,  Locke    Craig, 

Governor. 

Executive  Offices 
State  of  Missouri 
City  of  Jefferson 
Hon.  Locke  Craig,  January  24,  1916. 

Raleigh,  North  Carolina. 
Dear  Governor: — Yours  of  the  21st  inst.  at  hand.     I  wish  to  thank  you  for 
the  kindly  expressions  in  your  letter,  and  for  the  enclosure  you  sent  me. 

I  wish  to  assure  you  that  I  am  opposed  to  the  acceptance  of  the  gift,  and  now 
believe,  with  the  information  I  have,  that  I  can  prevent  the  other  two  members 
of  the  board,  who  have  signified  their  willingness  to  accept  the  bonds,  from  doing 
so,  and  can  induce  them  to  change  their  attitude  and  to  join  me  in  refusing  the 
gift.  I  am  now  firm  in  the  belief  that  these  bonds  were  issued  in  fraud  and  cor- 
ruption, as  you  say,  and  the  people  of  North  Carolina  should  not  be  called  upon 
to  meet  same. 

With  kindest  regards,  I  am  Yours  sincerely, 

E.  W.  Major. 

(2) 

PETITION  OF  THE  REPUBLIC  OF  CUBA  TO  BRING  SUIT 
AGAINST  THE  STATE 

( Telegram. ) 

Raleigh,  N.  C,  November  9,  1916. 
The  Chief  Justice  of  the  United  States, 
Washington,  D.  C. 
I  have  been  informed  that  the  Republic  of  Cuba  has  filed  a  petition  against 
the  State  of  North  Carolina  in  the  Supreme  Court  for  the  purpose  of  enforcing 
the  collection  of  certain  bonds;  that  on  Friday  attorneys  for  Cuba  will  be  heard 
urging  petition  for  allowing  suit. 

I  request  an  opportunity  to  have  the  State  of  North  Carolina  heard  in  any 
proceeding  or  hearing  by  the  Supreme  Court.  I  desire  the  Attorney-General  of 
North  Carolina  to  be  present  and  represent  the  State.  He  has  just  passed  through 
a  strenuous  campaign  and  been  elected  Governor.  I  do  not  know  that  he  can  go 
to  "Washington  on  Friday.  I  would  appreciate  information  as  to  the  proceeding 
now  before  the  Court,  and  a  postponement  until  the  Attorney-General  can  attend. 
The  Attorney-General  is  not  in  Raleigh.    I  would  thank  you  for  an  answer. 

Locke  Craig, 

Governor. 


FRAUDULENT  AND  REPUDIATED  BONDS  199 

(Telegram.) 

Washington,  D.  G,  November  9,  1916. 
Hon.  Locke  Craig,  Governor, 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 
Application  of  Bepublic  of  Cuba  for  permission  to  file  suit  against  North  Caro- 
lina is  purely  formal  application.  No  hearing  is  to  be  granted  on  Friday  or  any 
other  day  on  that  application.  If  permission  is  given  to  file  suit  every  oppor- 
tunity will  be  afforded  North  Carolina  to  be  heard  in  the  matter  at  some  future 
date.  James  D.  Maher, 

Clerk  of  the  U.  S.  Supreme  Court. 

Office  of  the  Clerk 
Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States 
Washington,  D.  C. 
Hon.  Locke  Craig,  November  15,  1916. 

Governor  of  North  Carolina, 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 
Dear  Sir  : — I  have  the  honor  to  inclose  herewith  a  certified  copy  of  an  order 
entered  on  the  13th  instant  in  the  case  of  Republic  of  Cuba  v.  State  of  North 
Carolina. 

Please  acknowledge  receipt.  Yours  truly, 

James  D.  Maher, 
Clerk  U.  S.  Supreme  Court, 
By  Wm.  R.  Stansbury,  Assistant. 

Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States 
No ,  Original,  October  Term,  1916 

FiEpublic  of  Cuba,  Plaintiff 

vs. 

State  of  North  Carolina 

On  consideration  of  the  motion  for  leave  to  file  a  declaration  in  this  cause, 
It  is  now  here  ordered  by  the  Court  that  the  said  motion  be  and  the  same  is 
hereby  assigned  for  argument  on  Monday,  January  8,  next,  and  that  notice  of 
this  order  be  given  to  the  Governor  of  North  Carolina  and  the  Attorney-General 
of  the  United  States. 
November  13,  1916. 


A  true  copy. 

Teste:  James  D.  Maher, 

[seal]  Clerk  of  the  U.  S.  Supreme  Court. 

Note. — As  the  Attorney-General  of  the  State,  Hon.  Thomas  W.  Bickett,  was  to  be 
inaugurated  Governor  on  January  10th,  and  as  it  was  impossible  for  him  to  devote  his 
entire  time  to  the  preparation  of  the  argument  on  the  motion  of  the  Republic  of  Cuba, 
Plaintiff,  v.  State  of  North  Carolina,  Governor  Craig  employed  Hon.  James  S.  Manning, 
who  was  at  that  time  the  Attorney-General-elect,  and  Hon.  Cameron  Morrison,  of  Char- 
lotte, to  appear  with  the  Attorney-General  in  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States 
on  the  date  set  for  the  hearing  of  the  motion,  and  to  represent  the  State  of  North  Caro- 
lina. 


200        LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

(3) 
LETTER  FROM  CUBAN-AMERICAN  SOCIETY,  AND  REPLY  THERETO 

Cuban-American  Society 
Washington,  D.  C. 

New  York  City,  November  10,  1916. 
To  His  Excellency ,  Hon.  Locke  Craig, 

Governor  of  North  Carolina. 

Your  Excellency  : — The  Cuban- American  Society  was  recently  incorporated 
at  Washington,  under  the  laws  of  the  District  of  Columbia,  for  the  principal  pur- 
pose of  promoting  the  formation  of  closer  social  associations  between  the  peoples 
of  Cuba  and  the  United  States,  it  being  believed  that  the  development  of  such 
relations  between  the  representative  citizens  of  these  two  countries  will  lead  to 
financial  and  commercial  understandings  which  will  be  of  far-reaching  importance. 

His  Excellency,  General  Mario  G.  Menocal,  President  of  Cuba,  has  accepted 
the  Honorary  Presidency  of  our  Society,  and  His  Excellency,  Dr.  Carlos  Manuel 
de  Cespedes,  Minister  from  Cuba  to  the  United  States,  is  our  Honorary  Vice- 
President.  The  executive  headquarters  of  our  organization  has  been  established 
in  the  Waldorf-Astoria,  New  York  City. 

The  visitation  of  Cuba  by  a  distinguished  body  composed  of  the  Executives 
of  several  of  the  sovereign  States  of  our  Union  would  be  of  the  greatest  value  as 
an  impressive  official  display  of  the  fraternal  sentiments  entertained  by  our  Nation 
for  our  sister  Republic,  and  the  enthusiastic  welcome,  with  the  receptions,  fetes, 
military  reviews  and  other  entertainments  which  would  be  accorded  to  such 
eminent  visitors,  with  the  wide  international  publicity  incidental  thereto,  would 
mean  the  beginning  of  a  new  epoch  in  the  relationship  between  the  two  republics. 

Our  Society  desires  to  ascertain  if  your  Excellency,  in  the  interests  of  inter- 
national concord,  would  be  disposed  to  accept,  in  your  official  capacity  as  Gov- 
ernor of  North  Carolina,  a  formal  invitation  from  the  Republic  of  Cuba  to  be 
the  honored  guest  of  the  Nation,  in  company  with  Executives  of  other  States,  for 
a  period  of  several  days  during  the  coming  winter.  The  transit  between  an 
American  port  and  Havana  would  be  made  by  your  Excellency  and  suite  on  a 
warship,  and  all  other  details  pertaining  to  transportation  and  accommodations 
would  be  arranged  for  by  our  Society. 

Trusting  that  the  activities  of  our  Association  for  the  promotion  of  the  social, 
financial,  and  industrial  unity  of  Cuba  and  the  United  States  will  meet  with  your 
highly  esteemed  approval,  we  have  the  honor  to  be, 

Your  Excellency's  most  obedient  servants, 

Cuban-American  Society, 

E.  Lawrence,  Chairman. 


FRAUDULENT  AND  REPUDIATED  BONDS  201 

State  of  North  Carolina 

Executive  Department 

Baxeigh 

November  30,  1916. 
Mr.  F.  Lawrence, 

Chairman,  Cuban-American  Society, 
New  York  City. 

My  dear  Sir  : — Your  letter  inquiring  if  I,  as  the  Governor  of  North  Carolina, 
would  accept  a  formal  invitation  from  the  Eepublic  of  Cuba  to  be  the  honored 
guest  of  that  Nation  has  been  carefully  considered.  I  am  not  unmindful  of  the 
honor  that  you  do  me,  and  appreciate  the  cordial  tone  of  your  communication. 

Under  different  circumstances  I  would  esteem  it  a  privilege  and  a  pleasure  to 
signify  my  acceptance  of  the  invitation,  and  to  contribute  in  any  way  possible 
toward  the  promotion  of  closer  relations  between  the  people  of  Cuba  and  the  State 
of  North  Carolina;  but  in  consideration  of  the  whole  situation,  it  is  impossible 
for  me  at  this  time,  as  the  Governor  of  North  Carolina,  to  accept  the  suggested 
hospitality  from  the  Eepublic  of  Cuba. 

An  action  has  been  recently  instituted  in  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United 
States  by  the  Eepublic  of  Cuba  against  the  State  of  North  Carolina  for  the  col- 
lection of  certain  fraudulent  bonds  amounting  to  more  than  two  million  dollars. 

These  bonds  are  what  are  known  as  "Eeconstruction  Bonds."  They  were  issued 
by  the  General  Assembly  of  1868  and  '69.  In  return  for  them  the  State  received 
no  value.  They  were  issued  by  a  General  Assembly  that  for  fifty  years  has  been 
odious  on  account  of  its  corruption  and  debauchery.  This  General  Assembly  con- 
vened immediately  after  the  War  between  the  States.  It  was  elected  in  disregard 
of  the  Constitution  and  the  forms  of  law.  The  bayonet  was  supreme.  The  best 
men  of  North  Carolina  were  disfranchised.  Ignorant  and  recently  enfranchised 
slaves  in  riot  and  ruin  were  in  control  of  our  commonwealth,  and  constituted  the 
principal  part  of  the  General  Assembly.  This  was  the  day  of  our  humiliation  and 
oppression. 

Shortly  after  the  issuing  of  these  bonds  the  citizenship  of  North  Carolina  by 
heroic  efforts  took  again  their  Government  into  their  own  hands.  The  bonds  were 
repudiated.  Their  dishonor  and  the  method  of  their  issue  was  published  to  the 
world.  No  interest  has  been  paid  on  them.  The  people  of  North  Carolina  in 
their  Constitutional  Convention  of  1875  declared  that  the  payment  of  the  bonds 
by  any  official  or  by  any  General  Assembly  should  forever  be  unlawful. 

Adventurers  and  unscrupulous  speculators  have  secured  or  gotten  control  of 
many  of  these  bonds,  and  have  by  devious  methods  attempted  to  collect  them. 
The  Federal  Constitution  provides  that  no  individual  can  sue  a  sovereign  State. 
On  this  account  the  holders  of  these  bonds  and  their  agents  have  attempted  to 
enforce  collection  through  the  agency  of  other  States  of  the  Union,  and  for  this 
purpose  have  offered  most  liberal  gifts  to  States  with  whom  they  have  negotiated. 
After  the  States  became  informed  of  the  facts  they  refused  to  touch  the  unclean 
thing.  The  State  of  South  Dakota  did  bring  suit  against  the  State  of  North  Caro- 
lina, but  not  on  bonds  of  the  issue  of  1868  and  '69. 

If  North  Carolina  owed  these  bonds  she  would  pay  them,  and  would  have 
always  recognized  their  validity.    She  does  not  owe  them,  and  will  resist  payment. 

She  hopes  and  believes  that  if  the  people  of  Cuba  knew  of  all  the  facts  pertaiu- 


202   LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

ing  to  this  subject,  they  would  not  make  themselves  a  party  to  the  unrighteous 
alliance  against  the  people  of  this  State. 

While  the  Kepublic  of  Cuba  maintains,  or  attempts  to  maintain  this  action  for 
the  collection  of  these  bonds,  as  the  Governor  of  this  State,  I  cannot  consent  to 
be  the  guest  of  that  Nation. 

The  citizens  of  North  Carolina  have  always  felt  the  deepest  interest  in  the 
welfare  and  destiny  of  the  Eepublic  of  Cuba.  In  1898  thousands  of  young  men 
volunteered  from  this  State  to  enlist  in  the  army  for  the  relief  from  oppression 
and  for  the  liberty  of  the  Island  of  Cuba.  On  the  grounds  of  the  Capitol  of  the 
State  there  is  the  statue  of  Worth  Bagley,  a  North  Carolinian  and  an  Ensign  of 
the  Navy,  who  was  the  first  to  shed  his  blood  in  this  war  of  emancipation  and 
humanity.  Lieutenant  William  E.  Shipp,  a  most  gallant  son  of  our  State,  com- 
manding and  leading  a  battalion  of  the  Tenth  Cavalry,  fell  in  the  famous  charge 
on  San  Juan  Hill.  These  are  not  the  only  brave  sons  of  North  Carolina  who  gave 
their  lives  for  the  freedom  of  the  Cuban  people. 

We  have  given  this  and  other  evidences  of  our  regard  and  sympathy.  We 
have  looked  with  gratification  upon  the  increasing  friendship  between  our  people 
and  the  Eepublic  of  Cuba,  and  have  realized  that  growing  intercourse,  trade  and 
cooperation  would  inure  to  the  highest  welfare  of  both. 

In  memory  of  the  past  and  of  the  cordial  relations  existing  between  us,  it  was 
with  surprise  and  disappointment  that  we  learned  of  the  action  of  the  Cuban 
Eepublic  in  undertaking  the  enforcement  of  the  claim  above  mentioned. 

I  deeply  regret  that  on  any  account  there  should  be  any  interruption  of  the 
most  cordial  and  friendly  relations  between  the  Eepublic  of  Cuba  and  the  State 
of  North  Carolina.  Yours  sincerely, 

Locke  Craig, 

Governor. 

Note. — The  petition  filed  by  the  Republic  ot  Cuba  against  the  State  of  North  Carolina 
was  subsequently  withdrawn.    See  Supplemental  Papers. 


(VIII) 

AGREEMENT  OF  ATLANTIC  COAST  LINE  NOT 

TO  REMOVE  CASES  PENDING  TO  THE 

FEDERAL  COURTS 


FEBRUARY,  1916 


AGREEMENT  OF  THE  ATLANTIC  COAST  LINE  NOT  TO  REMOVE 
CASES  PENDING  TO  THE  FEDERAL  COURTS 

Atlantic  Coast  Line  Railroad  Company 

Law  Department 

Wilmington,  N".  C. 

February  6,  1915. 
Hon.  Locke  Craig,  (At  Raleigh,  ST.  C.) 

Governor  of  North  Carolina, 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 

Dear  Sir: — In  order  that  suggestion  made  by  me  on  behalf  of  this  company 
may  be  definitely  and  clearly  submitted  to  you  and  the  gentlemen  who  have  kindly 
consented  to  meet  with  you,  in  order  to  determine  accurately  the  facts  in  connec- 
tion with  the  passage  of  the  Enabling  Act  of  1899,  under  which  the  Wilmington 
and  Weldon  was  consolidated  with  the  other  roads  now  forming  the  Atlantic  Coast 
Line  Railroad  Company,  I  beg  leave  to  reduce  to  writing  in  this  letter  the  state- 
ment I  have  heretofore  made  to  you,  and  individually  to  certain  of  the  other 
gentlemen  mentioned. 

I  have  asked,  and  you  have  very  kindly  consented  to  aid  me  in  securing  a 
meeting  of  the  gentlemen  who  have  actual  personal  knowledge  of  the  facts  con- 
nected with  the  introduction  and  passage  of  this  bill,  the  object  being  to  ask  them 
to  consider  the  situation  as  they  recall  it,  and  to  determine,  after  mutual  discus- 
sion:  (1)  Whether  or  not  a  promise  was  made  by  any  official  of  the  Wilmington 
and  Weldon  or  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line  that  the  consolidated  company  would  not 
seek  to  remove  a  case  to  the  Federal  court,  upon  the  ground  of  diverse  citizenship 
thereafter,  if  the  bill  introduced  by  Mr.  Rountree  was  enacted  into  a  law;  (2) 
whether  such  a  promise  was  made  by  any  one  else,  having  even  apparent  authority, 
on  behalf  of  the  Wilmington  and  Weldon  or  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line,  and  (3) 
whether  the  Legislature,  in  passing  this  bill  actually  relied  upon  the  faith  of  any 
such  promise,  either  made,  or  which  was  understood  by  the  Legislature  to  have 
been  made. 

I  have  said  to  you,  and  to  the  other  gentlemen,  that  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line 
officials  have  no  knowledge  of  any  such  promise  ever  having  been  made  by  any 
person  officially  connected  with  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line,  or  by  any  one  else,  but 
that  if  it  appeared  that  such  a  promise  was  made  even  without  the  knowledge  of 
the  officials  by  one  having  even  apparent  authority,  and  that  the  action  of  the 
Legislature  of  1S99,  in  passing  the  law,  was  upon  the  faith  of  the  understanding 
that  such  a  promise  had  been  made,  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line  Railroad  Company 
is  now  prepared,  and  will  agree  to  renounce  any  right  that  it  has  under  the  law 
to  remove  cases  from  the  State  to  the  Federal  court  in  this  State,  upon  the  ground 
of  diverse  citizenship,  and  will  immediately  agree  to  a  dismissal,  or  remand  of  all 
cases  now  pending  in  the  Federal  court,  in  which  the  cause  of  action  arose  within 
this  State,  and  which  was  removed  to  the  Federal  court  upon  the  ground  of  diverse 
citizenship. 


206        LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

I  am  authorized  to  agree  further  for  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line  Eailroad  Com- 
pany, in  the  event  you  find  that  such  a  promise  was  made,  or  understood  to  have 
been  made,  that  it  will  not  hereafter  seek  removal  of  cases,  in  which  the  cause 
of  action  arose  in  this  State,  to  the  Federal  court,  upon  the  ground  of  diverse 
citizenship,  and  to  agree  generally  that  so  far  as  the  right  of  removal  is  concerned, 
the  Atlantic  Coast  Line  Eailroad  Company  will  assume  the  same  position  it  would 
occupy  if  the  property  were  still  operated  by  the  Wilmington  and  Weldon  Railroad 
Company.  This,  as  we  view  it,  would  give  full  force  and  effect  to  the  possible 
purpose  and  intention  of  the  Legislature  in  passing  the  Act  of  1899,  construing 
it  most  liberally  in  favor  of  the  State.  It  would  not,  of  course,  preclude  us  from 
seeking  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Federal  court  in  those  cases  in  which  the  cause  of 
action  arose  in  another  State,  or  in  other  cases  which,  under  the  Federal  statutes, 
may  be  tried  in  the  Federal  Court,  even  by  a  corporation  which  is  a  citizen  of 
this  State. 

It  is  the  sincere  desire  of  this  company  to  ascertain  actually  the  facts  in  con- 
nection with  the  passage  of  this  bill,  and  thereafter  to  carry  out  to  the  fullest 
extent  any  obligation,  either  legal  or  moral,  which  properly  flows  from  those  facts, 
and  I  desire  to  express  here  my  appreciation  of  the  courtesy  shown  us  by  you 
gentlemen  who  have  consented  to  meet  and  discuss  this  situation,  in  order  that 
this  proper  object  may  be  accomplished. 

To  the  end  that  your  conclusion  may  be  specifically  and  definitely  known  to 
us,  I  will  very  much  appreciate  it  if  you  will  give  it  to  me  in  the  shape  of  a  letter, 
or  other  memorandum  in  writing,  which  may  be  taken  as  a  guide  and  basis  of  our 
future  action  in  the  premises.  Yours  very  truly, 

Geo.  B.  Elliott, 

Assistant  General  Counsel. 


Atlantic  Coast  Line  Eailroad  Company 
Law  Department 
Wilmington,  1ST.  C. 

February  6,  1915. 

(At  Ealeigh,  N".  C.) 
Hon.  Locke  Craig, 

Governor  of  North  Carolina, 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 
My  dear  Sir: — I  acknowledge  your  letter  of  this  date,  reciting  the  conclusions 
reached  by  you,  Judge  W.  E.  Allen,  Judge  F.  A.  Daniels,  Judge  George  Eountree, 
Hon.  E.  L.  Travis,  Hon.  M.  H.  Allen,  and  Hon.  H.  A.  Gilliam,  in  conference  this 
morning,  the  five  first  named  being  the  gentlemen  who  have  personal  knowledge 
of  the  circumstances  attending  the  passage  of  the  act  of  1899,  authorizing  the  con- 
solidation of  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line. 

It  is  naturally  a  matter  of  sincere  gratification  to  this  Company  and  its  offi- 
cials to  receive  from  you  gentlemen  who  are  familiar  with  the  facts  the  assur- 
ance that  is  contained  in  your  letter,  constituting,  as  it  does,  a  complete  answer  to 
the  charge  of  bad  faith  on  the  part  of  this  Company. 

I  repeat  now,  in  writing,  the  statement  that  I  made  to  the  gentlemen  mentioned 
in  your  office  this  morning,  to  wit :  that  notwithstanding  the  fact  that  you  find  no 
promise  was  made  by  any  person  on  behalf  of  this  Company  not  to  remove  cases 


ATLANTIC  COAST  LINE  NOT  TO  REMOVE  CASES  207 

to  the  Federal  court  on  the  ground  of  diverse  citizenship,  nevertheless,  inasmuch 
as  it  appears  from  your  finding  that  the  Legislature  understood,  in  passing  this 
bill,  that  the  Company  did  not  contemplate,  nor  intend,  to  remove  its  cases  to  the 
Federal  court  on  the  ground  of  diverse  citizenship,  and  that  the  amendments 
adopted  were  understood  and  intended  by  the  Legislature  to  cover  this  point,  and 
that  its  action  was  on  the  faith  of  this  understanding,  this  Company  will,  and  it 
hereby  does,  agree  to  renounce  such  right  as  it  may  have  under  the  law  to  remove 
cases  in  which  the  cause  of  action  arises  in  this  State  from  the  State  to  the  Federal 
courts  in  this  State  upon  the  ground  of  diverse  citizenship. 

Although  I  am  authorized  to  make  this  agreement  on  behalf  of  the  Company, 
it  will,  I  think,  be  better  to  have  this  assurance  given  to  you  and  the  people  of  the 
State  by  means  of  a  letter  over  the  signature  of  the  President  of  this  Company, 
and  I  will,  therefore,  upon  my  return  to  Wilmington,  request  Mr.  J.  R.  Kenly, 
President,  to  confirm  this  statement  over  his  signature  in  a  letter  addressed  to  you, 
to  the  end  that  this  correspondence,  with  Mr.  Kenly's  letter,  may  be  placed  in  your 
files  as  a  record  for  the  future  determination  of  any  question  that  may  arise  in  the 
premises. 

With  renewed  expression  of  my  appreciation  of  the  courtesy  of  the  gentlemen 
named  in  meeting  to  determine  this  question,  I  am, 

Yours  very  truly,  Geo.  B.  Elliott, 

Assistant  General  Counsel. 


State  of  Worth  Carolina 

Executive  Department 

Raleigh 

February  6,  1915. 
Mr.  Geo.  B.  Elliott, 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 

Dear  Sir: — Your  letter  of  February  6,  1915,  has  been  received,  and  I  have 
considered  the  matters  referred  to  therein  in  company  with  Judge  W.  R.  Allen, 
Judge  F.  A.  Daniels,  Judge  George  Rountree,  Hon.  E.  L.  Travis,  Hon.  M.  H. 
Allen,  Hon.  H.  A.  Gilliam  and  yourself.  I  have  reached  the  following  conclusion, 
in  which  all  of  the  gentlemen  present  concur: 

We  find  that  no  official  of  the  Wilmington  and  Weldon  Railroad,  or  of  the 
Atlantic  Coast  Line  made  any  promise  at  the  time  the  consolidating  act  was  passed, 
nor  at  any  other  time,  that  the  company  formed  under  the  act  would  not  seek  to 
remove  a  case  to  the  Federal  court  upon  the  ground  of  diverse  citizenship,  and  we 
further  find  that  no  such  promise  was  made  by  any  one  in  behalf  of  the  company. 
We  do  find,  however,  that  it  was  understood  by  the  members  of  the  General  Assem- 
bly without  exception,  who  considered  this  act,  that  the  company  did  not  contem- 
plate nor  intend  to  remove  its  cases  to  the  Federal  court  on  account  of  diverse 
citizenship,  and  that  the  amendments  which  were  adopted  to  prevent  removals  would 
be  observed  by  the  company  as  understood  and  intended  by  the  Legislature,  and 
that  the  action  of  the  General  Assembly  was  on  the  faith  of  this  understanding. 

It  appears  clearly  to  these  gentlemen  that  these  facts  were  not  known  to  the 
officials  of  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line  Railroad  prior  to  this  conference. 

It  is  a  matter  of  congratulation  to  the  people  of  the  State  and  to  the  company 
that,  upon  being  fully  informed  as  to  the  facts,  the  company  shows  a  willingness 


208        LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

to  comply  with  the  understanding  that  existed  in  the  Legislature  at  the  time  of  the 
passage  of  this  act,  and  has  agreed  to  remove  no  other  causes  of  action  arising  in 
Worth  Carolina  on  the  ground  of  diversity  of  citizenship,  and  agrees  that  those 
causes  now  pending,  which  have  heretofore  heen  removed  on  the  ground  of  diver- 
sity of  citizenship,  may  be  remanded  to  the  State  courts.  All  of  the  gentlemen 
present  join  in  commending  the  spirit  of  fairness  of  the  company  as  manifested 
in  keeping  the  promise  or  offer  made  by  President  Kenly  in  his  recently  published 
letter,  without  subtle  distinction  as  to  whether  or  not  the  facts  as  found  by  us  meet 
the  exact  terms  of  his  offer.  Yours  truly, 

Locke   Craig, 

Governor. 


Atlantic  Coast  Line  Kailroad  Company 
Office  of  President 

Wilmington,  N".  C,  February  7,  1915. 
Hon.  Locke  Craig, 

Governor  of  North  Carolina, 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 

My  dear  Sir  : — I  have  read  with  much  pleasure  and  gratification  your  letter 
of  February  6th  to  Mr.  George  B.  Elliott,  Assistant  General  Counsel  of  this  com- 
pany, giving  the  finding  of  the  gentlemen  who  met  to  consider  the  questions  in- 
volved in  the  passage  of  the  Act  of  1899,  authorizing  the  consolidation  of  the 
Atlantic  Coast  Line  Railroad  Company.  I  have  also  read  the  letter  of  February 
6th  from  Mr.  Elliott  addressed  to  you,  in  which  he  states  for  this  company,  that 
we  will  hereafter  renounce  the  right  of  removal  to  the  Federal  court  in  all  cases 
in  which  the  cause  of  action  arises  within  this  State,  upon  the  ground  of  diverse 
citizenship,  and  will  agree  that  cases  now  pending  in  the  Federal  court,  of  such 
character,  may  be  remanded  to  the  State  court. 

As  suggested  by  Mr.  Elliott  in  that  letter,  I  now  beg  to  ratify  and  confirm  the 
position  therein  taken,  and  the  agreement  entered  into  with  the  State  in  this  matter. 

It  is  particularly  gratifying  to  me,  and  to  the  other  officers  of  this  company, 
that  the  charge  of  bad  faith,  and  of  conscious  failure  to  live  up  to  our  obligations, 
should  have  been  so  fully  and  frankly  met,  and  disproved,  by  the  finding  of  the 
several  gentlemen  who  were  peculiarly  in  position  to  know  the  facts  as  they  actu- 
ally transpired;  and  I  take  advantage  of  this  opportunity  to  express  to  you  our 
thanks  for  and  appreciation  of  the  kindly  personal  interest  that  you  have  taken 
in  the  matter,  and  for  the  aid  you  have  generously  given  in  securing  the  confer- 
ence, to  the  end  that  these  facts  might  become  known. 

I  feel  that  it  was  largely  through  your  kindly  interest  that  this  satisfactory 
solution  of  the  situation  was  brought  about.  Yours  very  truly, 

J.  R.  Kenly, 

President. 


(IX) 
VANCE  STATUE  COMMISSION 

CREATED  IN  ACCORDANCE  WITH  RESOLUTION  OF  THE  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY 

OF  1907,   PROVIDING   FOR  A  STATUE    OF   ZEBULON   B.  VANCE 

TO  BE  PLACED  LN   STATUARY  HALL  IN  THE 

CAPITOL  AT  WASHINGTON 


VANCE  STATUE  COMMISSION 

State  of  North  Carolina 

Executive  Department 

Ealeigh 

September  23,  1914. 
Justice  W.  A.  Hoke, 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 

My  dear  Judge  Hoke  : — The  General  Assembly  of  1907  passed  a  resolution 
providing  that  a  marble  statue  of  Senator  Vance  be  erected  in  Statuary  Hall  in  the 
Capitol  at  "Washington  in  one  of  the  two  niches  reserved  for  North  Carolina.  The 
Governor  and  Council  of  State  are  authorized  to  take  such  steps  as  may  be  neces- 
sary to  erect  such  statue,  and  to  expend  such  sums  as  may  be  necessary  therefor. 
The  statute  has  never  been  erected.  The  law  above  referred  to  is  printed  in  the 
Public  Laws  of  North  Carolina  on  page  1433. 

With  the  approval  of  the  Council  of  State,  I  have  decided  to  appoint  a  com- 
mission to  provide  for  the  placing  of  the  statue  of  Senator  Vance  according  to  the 
resolution  of  the  General  Assembly,  and  with  the  approval  of  the  Council  of  State, 
I  have  appointed  the  following  Commission : 

Miss  Laura  Carter,  Asheville,  N.  C, 

Mrs.  Matthew  VanL.  Moore,  Asheville,  N.  C, 

Mr.  John  Henry  Martin,  Asheville,  N.  C, 

Judge  "W.  A.  Hoke,  Ealeigh,  N.  C, 

Hon.  Clement  Manly,  "Winston-Salem,  N.  C. 

I  enclose  you  the  certificate  of  your  appointment. 

This  Commission  will  proceed  at  once  to  take  such  steps  as  may  be  necessary 
to  provide  for  the  erection  of  the  statue  as  soon  as  it  can  be  done.  When  you  have 
agreed  upon  the  plans,  you  will  make  report  to  the  Governor  and  the  Council  of 
State,  that  the  same  may  be  approved  in  accordance  with  the  resolution  of  the 
General  Assembly. 

The  act  provides  that  the  necessary  expenses  connected  with  the  modeling  and 
erecting  of  such  statue  be  paid  by  the  State  Treasurer.  This  includes  the  necessary 
expenses  of  the  Commission. 

If  you  will  pardon  me,  I  will  make  the  following  suggestion  of  a  plan  of  work : 
Each  member  of  the  Commission  can  devote  to  the  preparation  of  the  statue  such 
consideration  as  he  conveniently  can.  During  the  Christmas  holidays  let  the  Com- 
mission meet  in  the  city  of  Asheville,  and  to  this  meeting  each  member  can  submit 
the  result  of  his  investigations.  I  take  the  liberty  of  requesting  you  to  call  the 
Commission  together  in  Asheville  during  the  approaching  Christmas  holidays. 

I  have  appointed  three  members  in  Asheville,  so  that  a  quorum  would  be  at 
any  meeting  in  this  place  without  extra  expense.  In  my  opinion  the  very  best 
statue  should  be  erected  that  money  can  buy,  but  I  wish  the  machinery  for  the 
erection  of  the  statue  to  be  as  economical  as  is  consistent  with  efficiency. 

Yours  truly,  Locke  Craig, 

Governor. 


212        LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 


Ealeigh,  N.  C.,  May  1,  1916. 
To  Governor  Locke  Craig, 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 

Dear  Sir  : — The  Committee,  appointed  by  your  Excellency  to  procure  a  statue 
of  the  late  Senator  Zebulon  Baird  Vance,  for  the  purpose  of  presenting  the  same 
to  the  people  of  the  United  States,  pursuant  to  the  Act  of  Congress,  respectfully 
beg  leave  to  report  that  they  have  completed  the  work  that  was  given  them  to  do, 
and  the  statue,  a  bronze  of  heroic  size,  is  now  in  its  proper  position  in  Statuary 
Hall,  the  Capitol,  Washington,  D.  C,  ready  for  unveiling. 

The  committee  considers  itself  fortunate  in  having  secured  for  the  purpose, 
Mr.  Gutzon  Borglum,  an  eminent  sculptor,  resident  in  New  York  city,  and  we 
are  pleased  to  assure  you  that,  in  our  estimate,  Mr.  Borglum  has  produced  a  statue 
that  is  at  once  an  impressive  likeness  and  a  work  of  great  artistic  merit. 

We  desire  to  thank  your  Excellency  for  selecting  us  for  this  task  for,  in  com- 
mon with  all  the  people  of  North  Carolina,  regardless  of  party  or  race,  we  are  glad 
to  have  this  great  man  stand  for  us  before  the  American  people  in  what  is  broad- 
minded  patriotic,  courageous,  steadfast  and  true,  and  it  has  been  a  great  gratifi- 
cation to  all  of  us  that  we  have  been  permitted  to  take  this  part  in  doing  honor 
to  his  memory. 

Permit  us  also  to  thank  you  for  your  cordial  and  efficient  cooperation 
throughout. 

With  assurances  of  esteem  and  high  regard,  we  remain, 

Very  respectfully  yours,  W.  A.  Hoke,  Chairman, 

for  the  Committee. 

Note. — Chapter  5,  Public  Laws  of  1915,  amended  the  Resolution  of  1907  by  striking 
out  the  word  "marble"  in  said  resolution,  leaving  the  Commission  free  to  procure  a  statue 
of  bronze  should  they  deem  it  advisable.  Accordingly  a  statue  of  bronze  was  decided 
upon  instead  of  marble  as  first  contemplated. 


VANCE  STATUE  COMMISSION  213 


State  or  North  Carolina 
Executive  Department 
Raleigh 
Justice  W.  A.  Hoke,  May  1,  1916. 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 
My  dear  Judge  Hoke  : — I  have  received  your  letter  notifying  me  that  the  Com- 
mittee appointed  to  secure  the  statue  of  Senator  Zebulon  B.  Vance  for  Memorial 
Hall  in  the  National  Capitol,  has  completed  the  work  given  them  to  do,  and  that 
the  statue  is  now  in  its  proper  position  in  Satutary  Hall  ready  for  unveiling. 

The  Governor  and  Council  of  State  greatly  appreciate  the  services  which  you 
and  your  committee  have  rendered  to  the  State  of  North  Carolina  in  securing 
this  magnificent  statue  of  Senator  Vance.  You  and  your  committee  have  at  all 
times  manifested  earnestness  in  this  work  which  could  not  result  otherwise  than  in 
securing  a  satisfactory  statue.  On  behalf  of  the  people  of  North  Carolina  I  thank 
you  for  what  you  have  done  in  such  an  unselfish  and  patriotic  spirit. 

The  Council  of  State  have  today  authorized  you  and  your  committee  to  do 
whatever  in  your  opinion  is  necessary  and  appropriate  for  the  unveiling  and 
presentation  of  the  statue  to  the  people  of  the  United  States.  We  hope  that  we 
can  impose  upon  you  this  additional  task. 

With  the  highest  regards,  Yours  sincerely,  Locke  Craig, 

Governor. 


Note. — On  June  22,  1916,  the  statue  of  Zebulon  Baird  Vance  was  unveiled  by  his  great- 
granddaughter,  little  Miss  Dorothy  Espey  Pillow,  in  Statuary  Hall,  in  the  Capitol  at 
Washington,  ■where  it  occupies  one  of  the  niches  allotted  to  North  Carolina  for  her  two 
most  distinguished  citizens.  The  presentation  speech  for  the  Commission  was  made  by 
Justice  W.  A.  Hoke,  Chairman  of  the  Vance  Statue  Commission,  and  accepted  for  the 
State  by  the  Governor,  who  presented  it  to  the  United  States.  It  was  accepted  for  the 
United  States  by  the  Vice-President,  Mr.  Marshall.  Following  this  ceremony,  which  was 
attended  by  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  and  many  citizens  of  North  Carolina  and 
their  friends,  appropriate  ceremonies  were  held  in  the  Senate  Chamber. 


(X) 
MITCHELL'S  PEAK  PARK 


MITCHELL'S  PEAK  PARK 

Mitchell's  Peak  is  the  highest  mountain  in  Worth  America  east  of  the  Rockies. 
Its  altitude  is  6,711  feet.  It  is  one  of  the  peaks  of  the  Black  Mountains,  the  loftiest 
range  of  the  Appalachian  system.  The  Peak  is  situated  in  western  North  Carolina 
in  the  county  of  Yancey,  twenty  miles  from  the  town  of  Black  Mountain,  on  the 
Southern  Railway,  and  ten  or  fifteen  miles  from  Mount  Mitchell  station  on  the 
Carolina,  Clinchfield  and  Ohio  Railway. 

Mitchell's  Peak,  or  Mount  Mitchell,  took  its  name  from  Dr.  Elisha  Mitchell,  a 
professor  of  the  University  of  North  Carolina.  He  was  the  pioneer  scientist  of 
the  South,  a  man  of  great  ability,  learning  and  research.  In  1835  he  measured 
the  height  of  the  mountain  and  ascertained  for  the  first  time  that  it  was  higher 
than  Mount  Washington,  and  that  its  summit  was  the  highest  land  in  America 
east  of  the  Mississippi.  Prior  to  Dr.  Mitchell's  measurement  in  1835  Mount 
Washington  was  considered  the  highest. 

Until  recently  the  only  way  to  the  top  of  this  mountain  was  by  steep  and  diffi- 
cult trails.  But  the  traveler  was  compensated  for  the  effort  of  the  journey.  He 
traveled  ten  miles  through  primeval  forests,  and  on  the  summit  was  in  the  midst 
of  a  vast  and  unbroken  wilderness  of  hundreds  of  thousands  of  acres  where  the  axe 
had  never  been  laid  to  a  tree,  except  by  hunter  and  trapper.  Within  the  last  few 
years  a  railroad  for  carrying  logs  has  been  built  from  the  town  of  Black  Moun- 
tain to  near  the  summit  of  Mitchell.  Within  the  last  year  this  road  has  been 
equipped  for  passenger  service,  and  during  the  last  summer  carried  thousands  of 
people  to  the  top  of  the  mountain.  The  views,  while  ascending  on  this  road,  con- 
stitute a  panorama  of  surpassing  grandeur. 

The  Black  Mountain  Railway,  recently  built,  connects  with  the  Carolina, 
Clinchfield  and  Ohio  at  Kona  on  the  Toe  River.  It  runs  through  a  most  pictur- 
esque region  to  the  Blue  Sea  Falls  where  Cane  River  leaps  over  a  precipice  90 
feet  high.     The  top  of  Mitchell  is  three  and  a  half  miles  from  these  falls. 

The  Black  Mountains  are  covered  with  a  luxurious  growth  of  balsam  or  spruce. 
From  the  dark,  rich  green  of  this  forest,  the  mountains  derive  their  name.  Their 
dark,  somber  color  is  in  distinct  contrast  to  the  blue  of  other  neighboring  mountain 
ranges  covered  with  forests  of  lighter  green. 

This  balsam  or  spruce  timber  is  now  very  valuable  for  lumber  and  wood  pulp. 
It  has  been  purchased  by  companies  who  are  rapidly  removing  it  in  immense  quan- 
tities, and  denuding  the  slopes  of  the  mountain  of  the  magnificent  virgin  growth. 
The  ground  is  left  covered  with  the  resinous  leaves  and  laps  of  the  trees,  which 
when  dry  are  most  inflammable.  It  seems  impossible  to  prevent  fires.  On  the 
areas  which  have  been  cut  over,  conflagrations  sweep  with  terrific  fury,  burning 
everything.  The  rich  and  gorgeous  slopes  of  the  vast  mountains  are  left  a  desert 
of  blackened  ruin. 

In  the  summer  of  1914  the  lumbermen  who  had  purchased  the  timber  on  Mitch- 
ell were  proceeding  to  remove  it.  Large  areas  on  the  sides  of  the  mountain  had 
been  destroyed  by  axe  and  fire.  The  summit  and  the  whole  mountain  were  threat- 
ened.   I  had  a  conference  with  Messrs.  Pearley  and  Crockett,  who  owned  and  were 


218        LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

cutting  this  timber.  At  my  solicitation  they  generously  agreed  to  suspend  opera- 
tions on  and  around  the  summit  of  the  mountain  until  the  General  Assembly  should 
meet.  I  stated  to  them  that  I  would  urge  the  General  Assembly  to  protect  this 
mountain  and  provide  a  reasonable  compensation  to  them  for  the  timber.  But  for 
this  arrangement  Mitchell's  Peak  would  have  been  devastated,  and  its  beauty  de- 
stroyed. The  General  Assembly  did  make  an  appropriation  of  $20,000  to  be  used 
in  the  purchase  of  land  for  a  park  on  the  mountain,  including  the  summit.  By 
this  enactment,  the  most  noted  mountain  in  the  eastern  portion  of  the  United 
States  was  preserved  in  its  original  beauty  and  grandeur  for  ourselves  and  our 
posterity. 

One  of  the  considerations  moving  the  General  Assembly  to  the  establishment 
of  the  park  was  to  relieve  this  famous  mountain  from  private  control,  that  the 
people  of  North  Carolina  and  tourists  from  all  parts  of  the  world  might  have  the 
privilege  of  free  access. 

The  bill  making  the  appropriation  for  the  establishment  of  the  park  was  intro- 
duced and  advocated  in  the  Senate  by  Senator  Zebulon  Weaver  of  Buncombe,  and 
in  the  House  by  Hon.  G.  P.  Deyton  of  Yancey.  It  passed  both  houses  by  a  large 
majority. 

This  act  of  the  General  Assembly  provided  for  a  Commission  to  purchase  and 
condemn  the  land  for  the  park.  I  appointed  on  this  Commission :  Messrs.  G.  P. 
Deyton  of  Yancey,  E.  F.  "Watson  of  Yancey,  M.  C.  Honeycutt  of  Yancey,  Wilson 
Hensley  of  Yancey,  and  T.  E.  Blackstock  of  Buncombe. 

The  Commission  has  agreed  with  the  owners  as  to  the  price  and  has  purchased 
the  land  for  the  park  except  five  acres  near  the  summit.  To  secure  this  five  acres 
condemnation  proceedings  have  been  begun  as  provided  by  the  statute. 

The  land  on  the  summit,  including  the  grave  of  Dr.  Mitchell,  was  conveyed 
about  forty  years  ago  to  Miss  Margaret  Mitchell,  a  daughter  of  Dr.   Mitchell. 
Her  heirs  have  expressed  their  willingness  to  convey  this  land  to  the  State. 
********* 

It  is  now  proposed  to  erect  on  the  summit  of  the  mountain  a  memorial  to  Dr. 
Mitchell  that  is  enduring,  worthy  of  the  man,  appropriate  to  the  place.  As  soon 
as  sufficient  funds  be  secured  I  will  appoint  a  commission  to  determine  the  design 
and  provide  for  the  erection  of  this  memorial. — From-  "Mitchell's  Peak  and  Dr. 
Mitchell,"  a  pamphlet  published  by  the  Governor,  December,  1915. 

Note. — Col.  Charles  E.  Johnson  was  appointed  by  the  Governor,  Treasurer  of  the 
Mitchell's  Peak  Monument  Fund,  and  subscriptions  have  been  received  for  this  fund  to 
the  extent  of  several  hundred  dollars. 

Note. — See  Supplemental  Papers. 

Governor  Locke  Craig.  Mitchell's  Peak,  N.  C,  June  21,  1914. 

Dear  Governor: — Your  favor  of  the  16th  inst.  received  in  due  course,  too  late, 
however,  to  enable  me  to  keep  the  appointment  you  made.  And,  as  I  shall  not  be 
in  Asheville  for  some  days,  I  take  this  opportunity  of  advising  you  of  conditions 
here,  in  the  hope  that  you  may  be  able  to  aid  me. 

Pearley  and  Crockett  are  rapidly  cutting  out  the  large  timber  on  the  west  side 
of  the  mountain.  Since  I  spoke  to  them  they  have  suspended  operations  along  the 
trail  and  are  cutting  out  the  lower  timber.  I  cannot  expect  them  to  hold  off 
much  longer.     All  our  interests  are  identical,  but  this  is  a  business  matter  with 


MITCHELL'S  PEAK  PARK  219 

them,  and  unless  some  responsible  party  guarantees  the  purchase  from  them  of  the 
wood  pulp  and  remaining  salable  timber  (which  is  a  very  small  quantity)  on  a 
stumpage  basis,  they  will  resume  operations  at  once,  and  Mt.  Mitchell  will  be  left 
in  the  condition  indicated  in  my  telegram  to  you. 

I  would  suggest  a  consultation  with  Pearley  and  Crockett,  when  some  means 
might  be  devised  to  bridge  over  the  unpleasant  possibilities. 

I  thank  you  sincerely  for  your  interest  in  this  matter  and  remain, 

Yours  very  truly, 

J.  "W.  Dunn. 


Mb.  J.  ~W.  Dunn,  Ashevtlle,  K  C,  June  22,  1914. 

Mitchell's  Peak,  N.  C. 
Mt  dear  Me.  Dunn  : — I  am  intensely  interested  in  Mitchell's  Peak.  It  cer- 
tainly should  be  protected  in  its  original  grandeur  and  beauty.  I  have  no  authority 
whatever  to  forbid  the  cutting  of  the  timber,  or  to  guarantee  the  present  owners 
any  indemnity  whatever  on  condition  that  they  should  refuse  to  cut  the  timber. 
I  would  be  gratified,  however,  to  have  an  interview  with  Messrs.  Pearley  &  Crockett, 
and  I  am  confident  that  the  Legislature  at  the  approaching  session  would  make  an 
arrangement  satisfactory  to  them  as  to  timber  that  they  do  not  cut,  and  which 
was  necessary  for  the  preservation  of  the  top  of  the  mountain.  You  might  sug- 
gest to  them  an  interview.  Yours  sincerely, 

Locke  Craig, 

Governor. 

A  BILL  TO  BE  ENTITLED  AN  ACT  TO  APPOINT  A  COMMISSION  TO 
ACQUIRE  A  PORTION  OF  MOUNT  MITCHELL,  INCLUDING  THE 
SUMMIT,  AND  TO  PROVIDE  FOR  THE  CREATION  OF  A  PUBLIC 
PARK  FOR  THE  USE  OF  THE  PEOPLE  OF  THE  STATE  OF 
NORTH  CAROLINA. 

Whereas,  the  summit  ot  Mount  Mitchell  in  Yancey  County  is  the  greatest 
altitude  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains;  and  whereas,  the  head  waters  of  many 
of  the  important  streams  of  the  State  are  at  or  near  the  said  summit,  and 
the  forest  is  being  cleared,  which  tends  to  damage  and  injure  the  streams 
flowing  through  the  said  State  from  the  mountains  to  the  Atlantic  Ocean; 
and  whereas,  it  is  deemed  desirable  that  this  beautiful  and  elevated  spot 
shall  be  acquired  and  permanently  dedicated  as  a  State  park  for  the  use  of 
the  people  of  the  entire  State  seeking  health  and  recreation;  and  whereas, 
unless  the  said  land  is  acquired  by  the  State  at  this  time,  the  cost  of  acquir- 
ing it  at  a  later  date  will  be  greatly  increased,  and  the  watercourses  may  be 
damaged  and  the  beauty  of  the  scenery  destroyed  by  removing  the  growth 
therefrom,  and  irreparable  damage  accrue:     Now,  therefore, 

The  General  Assembly  of  North  Carolina  do  enact: 

Section  1.  That  a  commission  is  hereby  created  to  consist  of  five  prac- 
tical business  men,  who  shall  be  appointed  by  the  Governor,  and  which  shall 
carry  out  the  provisions  of  this  act  and  shall  be  known  as  the  "Mitchell 
Peak  Park  Commission." 

Sec.  2.  That  said  commission  shall  be,  and  is  hereby  created  a  body  poli- 
tic and  corporate  under  the  name  and  style  of  the  "Mitchell  Peak  Park  Com- 
mission." 


220        LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

Sec.  3.  That  the  said  commission  shall  have  the  power  to  fix  the  time  and 
place  of  its  meetings.  Said  commissioners  shall  hold  office  until  the  prop- 
erty hereinafter  described  shall  have  been  purchased  and  a  deed  made  to  the 
State  of  North  Carolina,  and  until  they  shall  have  made  a  report  of  the  same 
to  the  General  Assembly  and  shall  have  been  discharged.  In  the  event  of  the 
death  or  resignation  of  any  member  of  said  commission,  his  successor  shall 
be  appointed  by  the  Governor.  The  said  commissioners  shall  receive  no 
compensation  but  their  traveling  expenses,  including  hotel  bills,  while  act- 
ively engaged  in  the  work  of  said  commission,  and  these  expenses  shall  be 
paid  out  of  the  funds  hereinafter  provided  for:  Provided,  that  the  said  com- 
mission shall  under  no  circumstances  expend  or  contract  to  expend  a  greater 
amount  than  that  named  in  this  act  for  the  purchase  of  said  land. 

Sec.  4.  The  said  commission  shall  convene  as  soon  as  practicable  and 
elect  a  chairman.  The  said  chairman  shall  from  time  to  time  draw  a  war- 
rant or  warrants  upon  the  Treasurer  of  the  State,  which,  after  being 
approved  and  countersigned  by  the  Governor  and  two  other  members  of  the 
commission  besides  the  chairman,  shall  be  paid  by  the  said  Treasurer  to  the 
owner  of  said  lands  purchased  for  the  said  purpose  out  of  any  funds  not 
otherwise  appropriated. 

Sec.  5.  The  total  amount  to  be  expended  under  this  act  shall  not  exceed 
$20,000,  and  the  said  sum  of  $20,000  is  hereby  designated  as  a  maximum 
amount  to  be  expended  in  the  acquisition  of  the  said  properties;  and  the 
said  commission  is  especially  charged  with  the  duty  of  acquiring  as  much 
of  the  lands  as  is  possible  for  the  purpose  intended,  not  exceeding  the  maxi- 
mum amount  hereinbefore  designated. 

Sec.  6.  Out  of  the  funds  so  appropriated,  the  said  Mitchell  Peak  Park 
Commission  shall  have  power  as  soon  as  practicable,  to  acquire,  either  by 
purchase  or  condemnation,  so  much  of  Mount  Mitchell,  including  the  peak 
thereof,  as  they  shall  deem  necessary  as  a  suitable  site  for  the  purpose  in- 
tended, and  in  the  event  of  the  purchase  of  said  land,  or  lands,  privately 
from  the  owner  or  owners  thereof,  the  said  commission  shall  take  a  deed  to 
the  State  of  North  Carolina  therefor. 

Sec  7.  Whenever  from  any  cause  the  said  commission  cannot  agree  with 
the  owner  or  owners  of  the  land  which  they  shall  select  for  the  purpose  of 
the  park  aforesaid,  as  to  the  price  to  be  paid  for  the  same,  or  for  any  part 
thereof,  said  land  or  lands  may  be  taken  at  a  valuation  to  be  made  by  three 
competent  and  disinterested  freeholders  of  the  County  of  Yancey,  one  of 
whom,  after  due  notice  to  the  landowner  of  such  proceedings,  shall  be 
chosen  by  the  said  commission,  one  selected  by  the  landowner,  and  those 
two  shall  select  a  third;  and  in  case  the  landowner  refuses  to  select,  then 
said  commission  shall  select  two,  and  these  two  shall  select  a  third,  and 
said  freeholders,  after  being  duly  sworn  by  a  justice  of  the  peace  of  the 
county  of  Yancey,  shall  at  once  go  on  said  land  and  proceed  to  condemn 
said  land,  or  lands,  and  ascertain  the  sum  which  shall  be  paid  the  owner 
or  owners  of  said  properties,  and  report  the  same  to  the  said  commission, 
under  their  hands  and  seals,  which  report,  on  being  confirmed  by  the  said 
commission  and  spread  upon  their  minutes,  shall  have  the  effect  of  a 
judgment  against  the  said  Mitchell  Peak  Park  Commission;  and  upon  pay- 
ing said  sum  to  the  landowner,  or  in  the  event  of  an  appeal,  upon  paying 
said  sum  to  the  chairman  of  said  commission  to  await  the  result  of  such 
appeal,  shall  pass  title  to  the  State  of  North  Carolina  of  the  land  so  taken: 
Provided,  that  if  any  person  whose  land  is  taken  for  the  said  purpose,  or 
the  said  commission  be  dissatisfied  with  the  valuation  thus  made,  then,  and 
in  that  case,   either  party  may   appeal  to  the  next   term  of  the   Superior 


MITCHELL'S  PEAK  PARK  221 

Court  of  Yancey  County  within  ten  days  from  the  filing  of  such  report; 
Provided  further,  that  such  appeal  shall  not  hinder  the  commission  from 
taking  possession  of  said  property. 

Sec.  8.  The  Governor  shall  have  power,  upon  complaint  or  upon  his  own 
motion,  to  remove  any  of  said  commissioners  for  negligence  of  duty  or  for 
any  conduct  unbecoming  said  commission  and  inconsistent  with  his  duties 
under  this  act. 

The  position  of  commissioner  under  this  act  shall  not  be  construed  to 
be  an  office  within  the  meaning  of  Section  7,  Article  14,  of  the  Constitution 
of  North  Carolina.  The  said  Mitchell  Peak  Park  Commission  shall  make 
report  to  the  Governor  setting  forth  all  purchases,  condemnations  and 
expenditures  of  every  kind  under  this  act. 

Sec.  9.  This  act  shall  be  in  force  from  and  after  its  ratification. 


State  of  North  Carolina 
Executive  Department 
Raleigh 
Hon.  G.  P.  Detton,  March  31,  1915. 

Green  Mountain,  N.  C. 
My  dear  Mr.  Detton  : — I  have  today  appointed  you  one  of  the  Commissioners 
to  buy  the  State  Park,  including  the  summit  of  Mitchell's  Peak,  according  to  the 
provisions  of  the  act  of  the  last  Legislature.    I  inclose  you  a  copy  of  the  act.    The 
members  of  the  Commission  are : 

Hon.  G.  P.  Deyton,  Green  Mountain, 
Mr.  E.  F.  Watson,  Burnsville, 
Mr.  M.  C.  Honeycutt,  Burnsville, 
Mr.  Wilson  Hensley,  Bald  Creek, 
Mr.  T.  Edgar  Blackstock,  Asheville. 

I  hope  very  much  that  the  owners  will  not  charge  an  extravagant  price  for 
this  land.  The  timber  near  the  summit  is  of  little  value.  The  territory  included 
in  the  park  is  valuable  only  as  a  resort  for  the  public,  and  should  be  open  to  all 
the  citizens  of  North  Carolina,  and  to  all  the  people  of  the  earth,  who  wish  to 
visit  this  famous  mountain. 

I  suggest  that  the  Commission  meet  and  organize  in  Burnsville  as  early  as 
possible,  and  proceed  with  negotiations  for  the  purchase  of  the  park.  All  of  the 
members  of  the  Commission  live  in  Yancey  County  except  Mr.  T.  Edgar  Black- 
stock,  who  lives  in  Asheville.     You  men  in  Yancey  can  communicate  with  him. 

I  have  appointed  on  this  Commission  men  who  are  among  the  best  citizens  of 
the  State,  with  the  assurance  that  they  will  render  the  State  and  the  people 
efficient  service.  I  hope  that  you  will  accept  this  appointment.  I  know  that  you 
are  a  public-spirited  citizen,  and  have  at  heart  the  welfare  of  the  State  and  of  our 
mountain  section.  In  years  to  come  I  feel  that  the  patriotic  efforts  of  those  who 
are  connected  with  the  establishment  of  this  park  will  be  remembered  with  appre- 
ciation. Your  friend,  Locke  Craig, 

Governor. 

Note. — The  above  letter  was  sent  to  each  member  of  the  Commission,  as  follows:  E.  F. 
Watson,  Burnsville;  M.  C.  Honeycutt,  Burnsville;  Wilson  Hensley,  Bald  Creek;  T.  Edgar 
Blackstock,  Asheville. 


222        LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

State  of  North  Carolina 

Executive  Department 

Raleigh 

Messrs.  Pearlet  &  Crockett,  March  31,  1915. 

Black  Mountain,  N.  C. 

Gentlemen  : — I  have  today  appointed  the  commission  to  buy  the  park  on  the 
Black  Mountain,  including  the  summit  of  Mitchell's  Peak.  This  is  in  accordance 
with  and  in  furtherance  of  the  negotiations  had  with  you  last  summer.  I  inclose 
you  a  copy  of  the  act  under  which  the  park  is  to  be  bought,  and  you  will  see  that 
the  act  proposes  to  carry  out  our  understanding. 

I  greatly  appreciate  your  consideration  and  generosity  in  stopping  the  cutting 
of  the  timber  on  the  summit  of  the  mountain.  This  enabled  the  State  to  preserve 
the  mountain  in  its  original  grandeur  and  beauty.  I  very  much  hope  that  you 
and  the  commission  can  readily  agree  upon  the  price  of  your  land,  and  that  no 
condemnation  proceedings  will  have  to  be  resorted  to.  If  such  proceedings  should 
be  necessary,  the  value  of  the  land  will  be  arbitrated  as  suggested  in  our  conver- 
sation last  summer. 

With  the  highest  regards,  and  assuring  you  of  my  appreciation  for  the  kind- 
nesses that  you  have  extended  to  me  personally,  and  for  the  public  spirit  that  you 
have  manifested,  I  am,  Yours  sincerely,  Locke  Craig 

Governor. 


(XI) 
MOBILIZATION  OF  THE  NATIONAL  GUARD 


MOBILIZATION  OF  THE  NATIONAL  GUARD 

1.  Telegram  from  War  Department  ordering  mobilization  of  the 

National  Guard,  June  18,  1916. 

2.  Statement  for  the  press,  June  23,  1916.    Appointment  of  Gen- 

eral Laurence  Young  as  Brigade  Commander. 

3.  Statement  for  the-  press,  June  21f,  1916,  in  regard  to  further 

appointments  in  the  National  Guard. 

4.  Telegram  to  the  President,  June  28,  1916,  and  the  President's 

reply  thereto. 

5.  Letter  to  Senator  Simmons  in  regard  to  the  North  Carolina 

regiments  going  as  one  brigade. 

6.  Order  in  which  the  troops  were  mobilized  at  Camp  Glenn. 


(1) 

TELEGRAM  FROM  THE  WAR  DEPARTMENT  ORDERING  MOBILIZA- 
TION OF  THE  NATIONAL  GUARD 

(  Telegram. ) 
Hon.  Locke  Craig,  Governor,  Washington,  D.  0,  June  18. 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 

Having  in  view  the  possibility  of  further  aggression  upon  the  territory  of  the 
United  States  from  Mexico,  and  the  necessity  for  the  proper  protection  of  that 
frontier,  the  President  has  thought  proper  to  exercise  the  authority  vested  in  him 
by  the  Constitution  and  laws  and  call  out  the  organized  militia  and  the  National 
Guard  necessary  for  that  purpose.  I  am,  in  consequence,  instructed  by  the  Presi- 
dent to  call  into  service  of  the  United  States  forthwith,  through  you,  the  following 
units  of  the  organized  militia  and  the  National  Guard  of  the  State  of  North  Caro- 
lina, which  the  President  directs  shall  be  assembled  at  the  State  mobilization  point, 
Camp  Glenn,  Morehead  City  (or  at  the  places  to  be  designated  to  you  by  the  Com- 
manding General,  Eastern  Department)  for  muster  into  the  service  of  the  United 
States :  One  brigade  of  three  regiments  of  infantry,  two  troops  of  cavalry,  one 
field  hospital,  one  ambulance  company. 

Organizations  to  be  accepted  into  the  Federal  service  should  have  the  minimum 
peace  strength  now  prescribed  for  organized  militia.  The  maximum  strength  at 
which  organizations  will  be  accepted,  and  to  which  they  should  be  raised  as  soon 
as  possible,  is  prescribed  in  section  2,  tables  of  organization,  United  States  Army. 
In  case  any  regiment,  battalion  or  squadron  now  recognized  as  such  contains  an 
insufficient  number  of  organizations  to  enable  it  to  conform  at  muster  to  regular 
army  organization  tables,  the  organizations  necessary  to  complete  such  units  may 
be  moved  to  mobilization  camp  and  there  inspected  under  orders  of  the  department 
commander,  to  determine  fitness  for  recognition  as  organized  militia  by  the  War 
Department. 

Circular  19,  Division  of  Military  Affairs,  1914,  prescribes  the  organization 
desired  from  each  State  as  part  of  the  local  tactical  division,  and  only  these  organi- 
zations will  be  accepted  into  service.  It  is  requested  that  all  officers  of  the  Adjutant 
General's  department,  quartermaster  corps  and  medical  corps,  duly  recognized  as 
pertaining  to  State  headquarters,  under  Table  1,  Tables  of  Organization,  Organized 
Militia,  and  not  elsewhere  required  for  duty  in  State  administration,  be  ordered 
to  camp  as  camp  staff  officers.  Such  number  of  these  staff  officers  as  the  depart- 
ment commander  may  determine  may  be  mustered  into  service  of  the  United  States 
for  the  purpose  of  proper  camp  administration,  and  will  be  mustered  out  when 
their  services  are  no  longer  required.  Where  recognized  brigades  or  divisions  are 
called  into  service  from  a  State,  the  staff  officers  pertaining  to  these  units,  under 
tables  of  organization,  United  States  Army,  will  be  mustered  into  service,  and 
also  the  authorized  inspectors  of  small  arms  practice  pertaining  thereto. 

Except  for  these  two  purposes  of  mobilization — camp  service  and  of  the  pre- 
scribed staff  service  with  tactical  units — officers  of  State  headquarters  under  Table 

15 


226        LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

1,  above  mentioned,  will  not  be  mustered  into  service  at  this  time.  If  tactical 
divisions  are  later  organized  tbe  requisite  additional  number  of  staff  officers  with 
rank  as  prescribed  for  division  staff  will,  as  far  as  practicable,  be  called  into 
service  from  those  States  which  have  furnished  troops  to  such  divisions. 

Newton  D.  Baker, 

Secretary  of  War. 


(2) 

STATEMENT  FOR  THE  PRESS,  JUNE  23,  1916.     APPOINTMENT  OF 
GENERAL  LAURENCE  YOUNG  AS  BRIGADE  COMMANDER 

Governor  Craig  announced  today  that  Brigadier  General  Laurence  W.  Young 
will  command  the  First  Brigade  in  the  field  under  the  call  for  North  Carolina 
troops.     This  is  in  pursuance  to  General  Order  No.  9,  dated  June  1,  1916. 

Several  months  ago  General  B.  S.  Royster,  Brigade  Commander,  in  accordance 
with  tbe  advice  of  his  physician,  informed  the  Governor  that  his  physical  condi- 
tion would  not  permit  his  further  command  of  the  brigade.  At  the  time  that 
General  Royster  announced  to  tbe  Governor  tbe  necessity  of  bis  retirement  he 
recommended  General  Laurence  Young  as  his  successor.  At  the  request  of  the 
Governor,  General  Royster  has  consented  to  take  charge  of  the  office  of  Adjutant 
General,  and  will  assume  the  duties  of  tbe  position  next  week. 

Continuing,  the  Governor  said :  "Certainly  I  regret  to  lose  General  Young  as 
my  Adjutant  General,  for  be  has  diligently  and  ably  discharged  bis  duties.  Should 
we  have  war  with  Mexico  General  Young  will  make  a  record  that  will  bring  pride 
to  tbe  State.  He  is  a  soldier  by  nature  and  education.  But  I  deem  myself  for- 
tunate in  being  able  to  secure  General  Royster  to  fill  this  position  of  Adjutant 
General.  General  Royster  is  a  gallant,  accomplished  soldier,  as  well  as  one  of  the 
foremost  lawyers  of  the  State.  There  is  no  man  in  tbe  State  that  can  fill  this 
position  better.  When  General  Royster  announced  several  months  ago  that  he 
could  not  command  the  brigade  in  tbe  field  on  account  of  his  physical  condition, 
it  was  with  deep  regret." 


MOBILIZATION  OF  TEE  NATIONAL  GUARD  227 

(3) 

STATEMENT  FOR  THE  PRESS,  JUNE  24,  1916,  IN  REGARD  TO  FUR- 
THER APPOINTMENTS  IN  THE  NATIONAL  GUARD 

Governor  Craig  made  the  following  announcement  today: 

"I  have  very  few  appointments  to  make  in  the  National  Guard.  The  soldiers 
of  North  Carolina  are  already  organized.  Official  positions  have  been  filled  by 
me  from  time  to  time  as  vacancies  occurred.  The  Guard  goes  into  service  as  an 
organized  body  with  officers  already  commissioned.  It  is  only  in  cases  of  occa- 
sional vacancies  on  account  of  physical  disability  that  I  am  called  upon  to  make 
an  appointment,  and  in  most  instances  for  these  vacancies  appointments  are  recom- 
mended by  elections  in  the  companies  themselves.  In  all  cases  of  appointment  to 
fill  vacancies  preference  will  be  given  to  the  officers  and  soldiers  of  the  Guard  who 
have  been  identified  with  it  for  years,  who  have  labored  diligently  and  unselfishly 
to  build  it  up.  If  places  of  honor  are  to  be  filled,  these  men  of  the  Guard  are 
entitled  to  them." 


(4) 

TELEGRAM  TO  THE  PRESIDENT,  JUNE  28,  1916,  AND  THE 
PRESIDENT'S  REPLY  THERETO 

Raleigh,  1ST.  C,  June  28, 1916. 
The  President  of  the  United  States, 
Washington,  D.  C. 
The  National  Guard  of  North  Carolina  is  ready  to  obey  the  orders  of  the 
President  of  the  United  States,  and  volunteers  to  go  into  Mexico  or  elsewhere  as 
they  may  be  ordered,  regardless  of  the  technical  provisions  of  the  Army  Reorgani- 
zation Bill.  Locke  Craig, 

Governor. 

The  White  House 
Washington 
Hon.  Locke  Craig,  June  28,  1916. 

Governor  of  North  Carolina, 
Raleigh,  N.  C. 
My  dear  Governor  Craig  : — Thank  you  for  your  telegram  of  this  afternoon 
and  for  your  generous  assurance  as  to  the  National  Guard  of  North  Carolina. 

Cordially  and  sincerely  yours, 

Woodrow  Wilson. 


228   LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

(5) 

LETTER  TO  SENATOR  SIMMONS  IN  REGARD  TO  THE  NORTH 
CAROLINA  REGIMENTS  GOING  AS  ONE  BRIGADE 

State  op  North  Carolina 
Executive  Department 
Raleigh 
Senator  F.  M.  Simmons,  June  30,  1916. 

Finance  Committee, 

Washington,  D.  C. 

My  dear  Senator  Simmons  : — We  earnestly  hope  that  the  War  Department 
will  not  break  up  the  North  Carolina  Brigade  by  sending  the  separate  regiments 
to  different  places.  The  soldiers  would  be  much  better  satisfied  if  tbey  were  kept 
together,  and  I  believe  that  they  will  do  much  better  service,  for  if  the  whole 
brigade  be  kept  together  they  will  all  feel  that  they  represent  the  State,  and  will 
be  enthused  by  a  State  pride  and  interest  that  they  would  not  feel  if  the  brigade 
were  broken  up. 

General  Laurence  W.  Young  has  been  appointed  Brigadier  General.  He  is  a 
favorite  with  all  the  officers  of  the  brigade,  and  with  all  the  troops.  Since  the 
Spanish  War  he  has  engaged  in  civil  occupation  enough  to  make  a  living,  but 
during  that  time  his  life  has  really  been  devoted  to  military  duties,  and  he  has 
made  himself  a  most  accomplished  soldier.  I  believe  that  it  would  be  hard  to 
find  a  man  that  was  better  informed  on  military  tastics,  and  better  equipped  as 
to  military  affairs  than  General  Young.  He  has  attended  all  the  meetings  of  the 
Guard  in  various  parts  of  the  United  States,  has  fought  sham  battles,  has  studied 
the  military  art,  and  informed  and  equipped  himself  thoroughly. 

I  believe  that  all  the  officers  of  the  brigade  have  signed  a  request  that  the 
brigade  be  not  broken  up,  and  that  General  Young  be  retained  as  the  Brigadier 
General.    There  will  be  great  dissatisfaction  if  this  is  not  done. 

If  there  is  any  doubt  about  the  situation,  and  if  I  can  do  anything  toward 
retaining  the  unity  of  our  brigade,  I  would  like  to  go  to  Washington  on  Monday 
to  see  the  President  if  I  can,  and  the  Secretary  of  War. 

I  hope  that  on  receipt  of  this  you  will  wire  me  at  my  expense  whether  to  come 
or  not. 

I  see  that  New  York  is  making  the  same  contention  that  North  Carolina  is, 
and  it  may  be  that  the  War  Department  has  decided  not  to  break  up  the  brigades. 
It  would  certainly,  in  my  opinion,  be  a  mistake  in  North  Carolina.  If  the  War 
Department  has  decided  not  to  break  up  the  brigades  there  is  of  course  no  neces- 
sity for  my  going  to  Washington.    Please  let  me  hear  from  you  on  Saturday. 

There  never  was  a  set  of  young  men  that  were  more  enthusiastic  and  more 
determined  to  make  a  record  that  would  be  an  honor  to  the  State  than  are  the 
members  of  the  National  Guard  of  this  State.  They  are  anxious  and  ready  to 
go  to  the  front,  and  it  is  really  hard  to  keep  them  home  until  the  orders  come. 
Please  exercise  your  great  influence  in  seeing  that  they  are  kept  together.  We 
will  all  appreciate  it.  If  I  can  help  you  to  a  feather's  weight  I  will  do  it,  and 
am  ready  to  go  at  any  minute.  Your  friend,  Locke  Craig 

Governor. 


MOBILIZATION  OF  THE  NATIONAL  GUARD  229 

(6) 

ORDER  IN  WHICH  THE  TROOPS  WERE  MORILIZED  AT 

CAMP  GLENN 

First  Regiment,  North  Carolina  National  Guard,  arrived  at  Camp  Glenn,  June 

25,  1916. 

Second  Regiment,  North  Carolina  National  Guard,  arrived  at  Camp  Glenn, 
June  28,  1916. 

Third  Regiment,  North  Carolina  National  Guard,  arrived  at  Camp  Glenn, 
July  1,  1916. 

Cavalry  arrived  at  Camp  Glenn,  July  1,  1916. 

Field  Hospital  No.  1  and  Ambulance  Co.  No.  1  arrived  at  Camp  Glenn,  June 

26,  1916. 

Company  A,  Corps  of  Engineers,  North  Carolina  National  Guard,  arrived  at 
Camp  Gleim,  August  26,  1916. 

Company  B,  Corps  of  Engineers,  North  Carolina  National  Guard,  arrived  at 
Camp  Glenn,  September  21,  1916. 

Note. — The  troops  being  duly  mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United  States,  they 
were  kept  at  Camp  Glenn  until  September  23,  when  they  were  ordered  to  the  Mexican  bor- 
der. They  began  to  move  from  Camp  Glenn  on  September  23  under  the  direction  of  the 
War  Department,  and  upon  their  arrival  at  El  Paso  they  became  a  part  of  the  Seventh 
Division,  United  States  Army. 


(XII) 

RELIEF  OF  FLOOD  SUFFERERS  IN  WESTERN 
NORTH  CAROLINA 


RELIEF  OF  FLOOD  SUFFERERS  IN  WESTERN  NORTH 

CAROLINA 

1.  Appointment  of  general  relief  committee  and  of  local  corrvr- 

mittees. 

2.  Statement  for  the  press. 

3.  Letter  sent  to  counties  in  flood-stricken  district. 

4.  General  relief  committee  work. 

5.  Resolutions  of  committee  appointed  by  Governor  Craig  from 

the  general  relief  committee. 

6.  Letter  sent  to  chairman  of  each  county's  working  committee. 

7.  Plan  of  organization. 

8.  Statement  to  the  press. 


(1) 

APPOINTMENT  OF  GENERAL  RELIEF  COMMITTEE  AND 
OF  LOCAL  COMMITTEES 

State  of  North  Carolina 

Governor's  Office 

Raleigh 

A  Proclamation  by  the  Governor 

To  the  People  of  North  Carolina:  A  great  disaster  has  befallen  a  large  region 
of  our  State ;  hundreds  of  people  are  homeless  and  helpless.  At  this  time  I  cannot 
describe  the  extent  of  the  damage  done  by  the  unprecedented  floods  of  July  15,  1916, 
nor  can  I  undertake  to  portray  the  present  and  prospective  suffering.  By  reason 
of  the  fact  that  Asheville  has  been  cut  off  from  communication  with  the  outside 
world,  I  could  not  be  as  promptly  and  adequately  informed  of  conditions  as  others. 
But  I  am  now  prepared  to  say  that  along  our  western  streams,  large  and  small, 
running  eastward  from  Wilkes  on  the  north  to  Rutherford  on  the  south,  in  the 
mountains,  the  floods  have  swept  away  not  only  the  homes  and  growing  crops, 
hut  even  the  lands  themselves  of  hundreds,  if  not  thousands,  of  our  fellow  men  and 
women.  They  are  in  distress  and  many  of  them  utterly  destitute  and  helpless. 
Their  all  has  been  swept  away  in  a  night. 

Wow,  therefore,  I,  Locke  Craig,  Governor  of  the  State  of  North  Carolina,  am 
calling  upon  our  generous  people  to  respond  to  the  cry  of  those  who  have  been 
so  terribly  stricken.  There  is  every  reason  to  believe  that  many  will  for  weeks 
have  to  be  supplied  with  the  necessities  of  life  in  order  that  they  may  be  sustained 
until  they  can  find  a  means  of  livelihood.  It  is  but  right  that  our  entire  people 
should  share  the  burden,  but  reasonable  that  the  people  in  regions  of  the  State 
in  which  no  damage  was  done,  where  crops  were  spared  and  homes  undisturbed, 
should  open  their  hearts  in  gracious  giving. 

I  understand  that  a  number  of  local  subscriptions  have  been  started  and  that 
at  least  two  relief  committees  have  begun  work.  It  is  not  my  desire  to  interfere 
with  their  work.  I  take  occasion,  rather,  to  commend  them.  At  the  same  time 
the  disaster  is  so  extensive,  the  work  of  relief  so  great,  that  I  feel  constrained  to 
appoint  a  Committee  of  General  Relief,  and  to  authorize  it  to  take  subscriptions 
and  to  appropriate  funds  as  needs  appear.  Every  dollar  shall  be  accounted  for 
and  every  penny  shall  go  to  relieve  actual  need.  I  name  the  following  citizens  to 
constitute  this  committee: 

Edward  E.  Britton,  Chairman Raleigh 

John  A.  Park Raleigh 

J.  W.  Bailey Raleigh 

E.  L.  Daughtridge Rocky  Mount 

Julian  S.  Carr Durham 

Cameron  Morrison Charlotte 

Santford  Martin Winston-Salem 

A.  M.  Scales Greensboro 


234        LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

Gerald  Johnson Greensboro 

Nathan  O'Berry Goldsboro 

Walker  Taylor Wilmington 

A.  D.  Watts Statesville 

J.  J.  Farriss High  Point 

M.  H.  Justice Rutherfordton 

John  Sprunt  Hill Durham 

E.  C.  Duncan Raleigh 

George  A.  Holderness Tarboro 

Hugh  MacRae Wilmington 

John  P.  Bruton Wilson 

Clarence  Poe Raleigh 

H.   E.   Fries Winston-Salem 

N.  J.  Rouse Kinston 

W.  D.  Turner Statesville 

R.  M.  Miller Charlotte 

E.  B.  Crow Raleigh 

B.  F.  Kilgore Raleigh 

James  I.  Johnson Raleigh 

James  H.  Pou Raleigh 

James    R.   Young Raleigh 

T.  A.  Uzzell New  Bern 

D.  Y.  Cooper Henderson. 

Subscriptions  may  be  sent  to  Edward  E.  Britton,  chairman,  Raleigh,  N.  C. 
I  am  sure  our  people,  once  they  realize  the  distress  of  their  fellow  North  Caro- 
linians, will  be  quick  to  pour  out  their  money  in  this  noble  cause. 

Done  in  our  city  of  Raleigh  on  this  the  twenty-second  day  of 

July,   in  the  year   of  our  Lord  one   thousand   nine  hundred   and 

[State  Seal]   sixteen  and  in  the  one  hundred  and  forty-first  year  of  our  American 

independence.  LoCKE  CraiG;  Governor. 

By  the  Governor: 

May  F.  Jones,  Private  Secretary. 


(2) 
STATEMENT  FOR  THE  PRESS,  JULY  28 

Governor  Craig  reached  Raleigh  today  at  12 :30.  He  was  obliged  to  travel 
about  eight  hundred  and  fifty  miles  to  get  here,  coming  by  Murphy,  Knoxville. 
and  Lynchburg.  He  expressed  his  great  gratification  at  the  liberality  of  North 
Carolinians  and  citizens  of  other  States  in  giving  to  relieve  the  distress  caused 
by  the  recent  floods  in  the  west.  "This  generosity,"  he  said,  "is  of  the  genuine 
kind — no  ostentation  about  it.  The  people  of  North  Carolina  are  giving  to  the 
people  in  distress  because  they  are  prompted  by  a  noble  sentiment.  A  great 
calamity  like  this  offers  to  those  who  have,  an  opportunity  to  justify  their  worthi- 
ness to  have.  In  this  time  of  universal  prosperity  we  will  not  allow  our  neighbors 
and  fellow-citizens  to  suffer  in  sudden  adversity.  We  do  not  fully  and  definitely 
know  the  extent  of  the  damage,  nor  the  needs  of  the  people,  but  this  will  be  ascer- 
tained as  expeditiously  as  possible. 


RELIEF  OF  FLOOD  SUFFERERS  235 

"It.  is  certain  that  demands  for  relief  in  many  sections  are  great  and  imperative. 
Funds  are  needed,  and  needed  badly.  We  must  continue  to  call  earnestly  upon  all 
the  people  of  the  State,  with  an  unfaltering  faith  that  this  call  will  meet  with 
a  generous  response." 

Governor  Craig  said  that  the  committee  that  he  had  appointed,  with  Mr. 
Edward  E.  Britton  as  chairman,  had  done  splendid  work,  and  had  done  it  most 
earnestly  and  unselfishly ;  that  while  he  was  in  Asheville  he  kept  in  touch  with  the 
situation  as  best  he  could  by  telegraph  and  telephone,  and  he  says  that  he  could 
not  have  added  anything  to  the  work  that  has  been  done  by  this  committee  had  he 
been  present  in  Baleigh. 

Governor  Craig  stated  that  the  city  of  Asheville  had  acted  spontaneously  and 
heroically  for  the  relief  of  sufferers  in  that  community.  "At  10  o'clock  on  Sunday, 
July  16th,"  said  he,  "the  waters  reached  the  highest  point  in  the  valleys  of  the 
French  Broad  and  the  Swannanoa.  On  Sunday  afternoon  the  citizens  of  Asheville 
met  and  raised  sufficient  money  to  meet  all  immediate  demands.  At  10  o'clock 
Monday  morning  there  was  a  mass  meeting  held  in  the  auditorium,  at  which 
$12,000  was  contributed.  The  people  were  eager  to  give.  The  communities  in  that 
section  were  notified  that  the  money  contributed  by  Asheville  would  be  applied 
to  their  relief.  At  this  meeting  there  was  no  self -exploitation.  Everybody  was  in 
earnest  to  meet  the  situation  promptly  and  completely.  Offers  for  outside  assist- 
ance were  politely  declined  with  appreciation.  The  statement  was  made  that 
Asheville  was  able  to  provide  sufficient  funds  and  that  assistance  from  the  outside 
could  not  be  accepted  until  the  people  of  Asheville  had  discharged  their  own  obliga- 
tion. The  town  of  Hendersonville  sent  word  that  it  would  provide  for  the  sufferers 
at  Bat  Cave  and  Chimney  Eock.  Some  relief  was  sent  to  these  two  villages  from 
Asheville,  but  after  the  receipt  of  these  messages  Hendersonville  looked  after  that 
section. 

"North  Carolina  is  really  one  community — the  whole  State.  "We  are  loyal  to 
one  another  too,  and  this  loyalty  is  not  diminished  by  removal  to  other  States,  as 
evidenced  by  the  sympathy  and  generosity  of  North  Carolinians  who  now  reside 
elsewhere.  There  are  sections  that  cannot  provide  for  themselves.  The  generosity 
of  neighbors  ought  not  to  be  taxed  too  much.  The  whole  State  is  doing  its  duty 
in  gladly  coming  to  the  relief  of  the  distressed  sections.  I  feel  that  whatever  money 
is  necessary  to  relieve  the  suffering  in  North  Carolina  will  be  furnished  by  the 
people  of  North  Carolina,  who  are  able  to  do  it,  and  who  are  determined  to  help 
the  ones  that  have  been  stricken  down  by  this  disaster. 

"We  gratefully  appreciate  the  benevolence  manifested  by  North  Carolinians  in 
other  States,  and  by  others  whose  humanity  makes  them  our  kindred.  We  have 
accepted  their  gifts,  sanctified  by  sympathy  and  kindness. 

"This  spirit  which  has  been  manifested  in  our  State  inspires  a  feeling  of  exalta- 
tion in  every  man  who  loves  the  State  and  who  believes  in  the  nobility  of  her 
citizenship.  The  flood  has  visited  communities  with  financial  ruin,  but  it  has 
called  forth  the  higher  sentiments  of  humanity  whose  value  cannot  be  estimated 
in  dollars." 


236        LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

(3) 
LETTER  SENT  TO  COUNTIES  IN  FLOOD-STRICKEN  DISTRICT 

State  of  North  Carolina 

Governor's  Office 

Raleigh 

August  10,  1916. 

Dear  Sir: — The  immediate  necessities  of  the  people  who  suffered  in  the  moun- 
tain section  by  the  recent  flood  have,  as  far  as  I  know,  been  provided  for.  The 
conditions  in  many  places  are  serious,  and  many  of  those  who  were  left  destitute 
must  be  looked  after  and  helped  for  several  months  to  come,  especially  during 
the  winter  season. 

Assurances  coming  to  me  from  the  generous  people  of  North  Carolina  have 
convinced  me  that  no  one  will  be  allowed  to  suffer  on  account  of  this  unprecedented 
disaster.  A  considerable  amount  has  already  been  contributed — altogether,  as 
much  as  $75,000.  The  contributions  that  have  come  to  the  central  committee  have 
nearly  always  been  accompanied  by  the  statement  that  more  would  be  given  if  the 
necessity  of  the  situation  should  require.  This  giving  has  been  spontaneous,  without 
ostentation,  and  in  the  genuine  spirit  of  kindness  and  sympathy. 

Several  organizations  have  heretofore  collected  and  administered  funds.  It 
seems  to  me  most  desirable  that  these  funds  contributed  by  the  people  of  North 
Carolina  should  be  systematically  administered  by  one  organization,  unified  and 
harmonious.  I  therefore  submit  to  you  the  following  plan,  with  the  request  that 
you  make  any  suggestion  in  amendment  thereto : 

1.  The  funds  contributed  by  the  people  of  the  State  to  be  under  the  control 
of  the  Central  Executive  Committee  at  Raleigh  and  apportioned  to  the  various 
counties  according  to  their  needs. 

2.  All  funds  apportioned  by  the  central  committee  to  be  administered  by  a 
county  committee  constituted  as  follows:  (1)  a  citizen  of  the  county  appointed  by 
the  -Governor;  (2)  the  chairman  of  the  board  of  county  commissioners;  (3)  a 
citizen  of  the  county  appointed  by  the  relief  committee  in  the  county. 

3.  The  citizen  appointed  by  the  Governor  to  be  the  chairman  of  the  county 
committee,  and  administer  the  fund  apportioned  to  the  county  in  cooperation  with 
the  other  members  of  the  committee  as  they  may  deem  proper. 

4.  The  county  committee  to  report  to  the  central  committee. 

The  work  of  relief  as  stated  above  will  be  prolonged  for  several  months.  We 
must  provide  that  it  be  done  systematically  and  effectively. 

Our  best  citizens  have  been  prompt  and  eager  to  render  service  to  the  distressed, 
unselfishly  and  generously. 

Please  let  me  hear  from  you.  Yours  sincerely, 

Locke    Ckaig. 


RELIEF  OF  FLOOD  SUFFERERS  237 

(4) 
GENERAL  RELIEF  COMMITTEE  WORK 

Raleigh,  August  11,  1916. 

The  General  Relief  Committee  for  the  Worth  Carolina  flood  sufferers  met  in 
the  offices  of  Governor  Locke  Craig  at  12  o'clock,  noon,  Governor  Locke  Craig 
presiding. 

Judge  P.  C.  Cocke  was  elected  secretary.  Upon  motion  of  Cameron  Morrison 
of  Charlotte,  the  Governor  was  instructed  to  perfect  an  organization  in  each  county 
for  the  purpose  of  distributing  the  State  relief  funds  and  the  funds  to  be  derived 
from  the  Government  appropriation.  The  Governor  was  instructed  to  distribute 
and  apply  the  State  relief  funds  in  such  manner  and  in  such  ways  as  he  should 
see  fit. 

Major  G.  A.  Youngberg  of  the  corps  of  engineers  of  the  United  States  Army, 
stationed  at  Charleston,  S.  C,  read  a  report  from  the  War  Department  at  Wash- 
ington, in  the  matter  of  the  work  to  be  done  under  his  direction  in  ISTorth  Carolina. 
This  report  dealt  with  Government  relief  for  the  flood  sufferers  in  all  the  counties 
of  ISTorth  Carolina  except  those  counties  in  the  French  Broad  Valley.  Upon  motion, 
Major  Youngberg  was  instructed  to  confer  with  the  War  Department  in  an  effort 
to  have  the  French  Broad  Valley  section  included  in  the  territory  to  be  aided; 
the  French  Broad  Valley  section  being  in  the  Tennessee  division  of  the  engineering 
corps,  the  assistance  for  this  district,  it  was  intended  by  the  War  Department,  to 
come  from  the  Knoxville  division.  Major  Youngberg  read  a  copy  of  the  resolution 
of  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  appropriating  $540,000  for  flood  sufferers. 

Mr.  J.  A.  Evans,  representing  the  Department  of  Agriculture  at  Washington, 
made  a  report  of  the  manner  and  method  of  relief  which  the  Department  of  Agri- 
culture was  to  render  to  the  flood  sufferers. 

Governor  Craig,  upon  motion,  appointed  a  working  committee  for  each  county 
affected  by  the  recent  floods.  The  said  committee  to  be  composed  of  the  chairman 
of  the  board  of  county  commissioners,  a  member  to  be  appointed  by  the  relief 
committee  of  each  county,  and  a  member  to  be  appointed  by  the  Governor  for  each 
county;  the  member  so  appointed  in  each  county  by  the  Governor  to  be  the  chair- 
man of  the  committee  in  that  county.  This  committee  to  have  charge  of  the  relief 
work  in  the  county  and  to  disburse  the  county's  part  of  the  State  and  Government 
funds. 

Mr.  E.  E.  Britton  moved  that  the  thanks  of  this  committee  be  extended  to 
Secretary  Baker  of  the  War  Department;  to  Secretary  Houston  of  the  United 
States  Department  of  Agriculture,  and  their  respective  representatives,  Major 
Youngberg  and  Mr.  Evans,  for  their  energy,  zeal,  and  patriotism  in  promptly 
rendering  assistance  to  the  flood  sufferers.     This  motion  was  unanimously  adopted. 

Upon  motion,  a  committee  composed  of  C.  M.  Dickson,  J.  W.  Pless,  P.  C. 
Cocke,  and  Henry  B.  Stevens  was  appointed  by  Governor  Craig  to  draft  resolutions 
denoting  the  appreciation  of  the  General  Relief  Committee  for  the  contributions 
made  by  the  citizens  of  the  State. 

The  following  chairmen  were  appointed  for  each  county's  working  committee: 

Wilkes   C.  C.  Wright Hunting  Creek 

McDowell    J.  W.  Pless Marion 

Burke J.  Ernest  Erwin Morganton 

Caldwell W.  C.  Newland Lenoir 


238        LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 


Ashe  C.  M.  Dickson Silas  Creek 

Surry   Alexander  Chatham,  Jr Elkin 

Avery Frank  Edmondson Newlands 

Rutherford   M.  H.  Justice Rutherfordton 

Transylvania  John  C.  McMinn Brevard 

Henderson C.  E.  Brooks Henderson ville 

Yadkin W.  A.  Hall Yadkinville 

Watauga B.  B.  Dougherty Boone 

Alleghany  R.  A.  Dough  ton Sparta 

Alexander  J.  H.  Burke Taylorsville 

Madison  J.  R.  Sams Mars  Hill 

Buncombe J.  E.  Rankin Asheville 

Mitchell  W.  L.  Lambert Bakersville 

Polk    J.  C.  Fisher Tryon 

Catawba W.  A.  Self Hickory 

Davidson Lee  V.  Phillips Lexington 

Davie   M.  J.  Hendricks Cana 

Gaston   R.  K.  Davenport Mount  Holly 

Hickory  Nut  Gap  Highway 
District   Dr.  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt Chapel  Hill 

List  of  those  present : 

T.  L.  Sigmon 
C.  M.  Dickson 
R.  W.  Collett 
F.  A.  Edmondson 
Judge  H.  B.  Stevens 
W.  S.  Shytle 
W.  J.  Byerly 
A.  C.  Avery,  Jr. 
E.  Carl  Duncan 
and  Governor  Craig. 

Upon  motion,  the  meeting  adjourned. 


W.  M.  McNairy 

A.  G.  Hendren 

B.  W.  Kilgore 

Maj.  G.  A.  Youngberg 

E.  E.  Britton 

F.  M.  Rennells 
J.  H.  Allen 

B.  F.  Davis 
Judge  P.  C.  Cocke 


C.  C.  Wright 
J.  A.  Evans 
C.  R.  Hudson 
W.  C.  Newland 
Cameron  Morrison 
W.  R.  Hill 
Nathan  O'Berry 
W.  J.  Martin 
J.  W.  Pless 

P.  C.  Cocke,  Secretary. 


(5) 


RESOLUTIONS  OF  COMMITTEE  APPOINTED  BY  GOVERNOR  CRAIG 
FROM  THE  GENERAL  RELIEF  COMMITTEE 

"Whereas  the  appeal  of  the  General  Relief  Committee  to  the  people  of  ISTorth 
Carolina  for  aid  for  the  flood  sufferers  has  met  with  a  patriotic  response ;  and 

Whereas  funds  have  been  generously  contributed  and  services  volunteered: 
Therefore,  Be  it 

Resolved,  That  for  the  people  of  the  flood  stricken  district  who  are  now  almost 
helpless  to  speak  and  act  for  themselves,  we,  their  representatives,  here  desire  to 
express  their  heartfelt  thanks. 

The  generosity  comes  so  spontaneously  and  freely  that  the  sufferers  accept 
it  without  wounds  to  the  feelings  of  a  proud  people.  These  gifts  wax  rich  because 
the  givers  are  kind.  C.  M.  Dickson, 

J.  W.  Pless, 
P.  C.  Cocke, 
Henby  B.  Stevens, 

Committee. 


RELIEF  OF  FLOOD  SUFFERERS  239 

(6) 

LETTER  SENT  TO  CHAIRMAN  OF  EACH  COUNTY'S  WORKING 

COMMITTEE 

State  of  North  Carolina 

Governor's  Office 

Raleigh 

August  15,  1916. 

My  dear  Sir: — A  conference  was  held  in  my  office  on  trie  11th.  of  August, 
attended  by  representative  citizens  from  the  counties  damaged  by  the  recent  floods. 
After  consultation  with  the  gentlemen  present,  the  plan  of  organization  for  the 
collection  and  disbursement  of  funds  was  adopted.    I  enclose  you  the  plan. 

In  accordance  therewith  I  have  appointed  you  chairman  of  the  committee  in 
your  county.  I  hope  that  you  will  confer  with  the  chairman  of  the  board  of  county 
commissioners  at  once,  and  will  see  that  the  relief  committee  of  your  county  appoint 
a  member  of  your  committee  as  provided  in  the  plan  of  organization. 

Major  Youngberg  of  the  War  Department  was  present  at  the  conference  in  my 
office  on  August  11th.  He  has  been  placed  in  charge  of  the  work  east  of  the  Blue 
Ridge,  and  I  am  expecting  that  the  War  Department  will  enlarge  his  jurisdiction 
so  as  to  include  the  counties  west  of  the  ridge. 

Major  Youngberg  stated  at  the  conference  on  August  11th  that  he  had  full 
authority  from  the  Secretary  of  War  to  disburse  this  money  under  the  provisions 
of  the  joint  resolution  adopted  by  Congress.  He  further  stated  that  he  would 
recognize  the  chairmen  of  the  committees  that  I  have  appointed  in  the  various 
counties  as  suitable  persons  through  whom  to  disburse  the  money;  that  he  would 
deposit  with  each  one  of  them  at  any  time  as  much  as  a  thousand  dollars  for  the 
expenditure  of  work  on  the  roads  that  have  been  destroyed ;  that  they  can  proceed 
at  once  to  the  employment  of  men  at  the  current  rate  of  wages  in  each  neighbor- 
hood to  work  upon  the  public  roads ;  that  such  bills  would  be  promptly  paid.  I  do 
not  understand  that  Major  Youngberg  said,  or  meant  to  say,  that  a  thousand 
dollars  was  the  total  that  he  would  disburse  for  the  benefit  of  any  county.  If  the 
necessities  require,  more  than  that  would  be  allotted  to  each  county ;  but  he  urged 
the  careful  and  economical  expenditure  of  this  money. 

There  is  no  reason  why  work  should  not  begin  upon  the  damaged  roads  without 
delay  by  all  of  the  men  in  each  community  who  desire  employment.  I  hope  that 
you  will  immediately  begin  work  in  your  county,  if  the  condition  of  the  roads 
demand  it,  and  that  you  will  act,  according  to  the  enclosed  plan  of  organization,  in 
cooperation  with  the  chairman  of  the  board  of  county  commissioners,  and  with 
the  committeeman  to  be  appointed  by  the  relief  committee  of  your  county.  Please 
keep  me  informed  as  to  the  needs  of  those  who  have  been  left  destitute  or  in  a 
condition  to  be  assisted. 

You  may  be  assured  that  the  whole  State  recognizes  with  grateful  appreciation 
the  services  which  you  are  willing  to  render  to  the  unfortunate  people  in  this  time 
of  calamity. 

With  the  highest  regards,  Yours  sincerely, 

Locke   Craig. 


240   LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

(7) 
PLAN  OF  ORGANIZATION 

1.  The  funds  contributed  by  the  people  of  the  State  to  be  under  the  control  of 
the  Central  Executive  Committee  at  Raleigh,  and  apportioned  to  the  various  coun- 
ties according  to  their  needs. 

2.  All  funds  apportioned  by  the  central  committee  to  be  administered  by  a 
county  committee  constituted  as  follows:  (1)  a  citizen  of  the  county  appointed 
by  the  Governor;  (2)  the  chairman  of  the  board  of  county  commissioners;  (3)  a 
citizen  of  the  county  appointed  by  the  relief  committee  in  the  county. 

3.  The  citizen  appointed  by  the  Governor  to  be  the  chairman  of  the  county  com- 
mittee, and  administer  the  fund  apportioned  to  the  county  in  cooperation  with  the 
other  members  of  the  committee  as  they  may  deem  proper. 

4.  The  county  committee  to  report  to  the  Central  Committee. 

NOTE. — On  August  14th  the  Governor  made  a  personal  investigation  of  the  flood- 
stricken  districts,  accompanied  by  Chairman  Edward  E.  Britton  and  Mr.  George  Holder- 
ness  of  the  General  Relief  Committee  of  the  State.  They  were  met  at  Greensboro  by 
General  Superintendent  Simpson  of  the  Southern  Railway,  who  tendered  them  the  use 
of  his  private  car  and  accompanied  them  on  their  tour.  The  party  visited  North  Wilkes- 
boro,  Morganton,  Marion,  and  Old  Fort,  and  made  various  short  stops  along  the  route. 
At  all  stops  they  were  welcomed  by  crowds  who  were  eager  to  hear  the  Governor's  mes- 
sage of  cheer  and  assurance  of  help  from  the  State  and  Federal  Governments.  Engineers 
were  sent  wherever  needed,  and  the  work  of  rebuilding  and  repairing  the  roads  was 
immediately  begun  everywhere.  Thousands  of  dollars  were  paid  into  the  general  relief 
fund  by  the  people  of  the  State,  and  this  was  added  to  by  an  appropriation  by  the  Federal 
Government. 


(8) 
STATEMENT  TO  THE  PRESS 

Asheville,  August  16,  1916. 

Governor  Locke  Craig  arrived  in  Asheville  Wednesday  night.  He  had  made 
a  tour  of  the  districts  in  the  State  damaged  by  the  high  waters  of  July  16th.  He 
says  that  he  traveled  fifty  or  sixty  miles  along  the  Yadkin  River;  that  all  of  the 
crops  on  the  fertile  bottom-lands  of  that  stream  have  been  destroyed;  that  the 
land  itself  in  many  places  had  been  swept  away.  He  said  that  along  his  whole 
journey  of  the  Yadkin  he  saw  but  one  man  at  work  in  the  field.  There  are  no  fields 
there  to  work  in.     The  valley  is  a  barren  waste. 

The  Catawba  River  was  just  as  destructive  as  the  Yadkin,  if  not  more  so. 
Immense  landslides  were  washed  out  of  the  sides  of  the  Blue  Ridge,  descending 
like  mighty  avalanches,  crushing  everything  before  them.  There  must  have  been 
on  the  Blue  Ridge  at  this  time  a  multitude  of  water-spouts. 

"I  have  never  seen,"  said  he,  "a  more  beautiful  nor  a  better  cultivated  country 
than  was  the  North  Cove  of  McDowell  County  on  the  North  Fork  of  the  Catawba. 
The  lands  were  fertile,  the  farmers  took  delight  in  their  beautiful  fields.  Now 
this  valley  is  a  desert  of  sand  and  rock.  Fine  residences  were  swept  away  and 
crushed;  the  humble  homes  of  the  poor  are  now  in  drifts  along  the  banks  of  the 


RELIEF  OF  FLOOD  SUFFERERS  241 

stream.  In  hundreds  of  instances  everything  that  the  tenant-farmer  had  was  lost — 
his  stock,  his  house,  his  furniture,  his  crop.  He  escaped  with  nothing  except  the 
clothes  that  the  family  wore.    Many  instances  related  to  me  are  most  pathetic. 

"One  man  with  eleven  children  got  his  family  to  the  hill  in  safety.  He  went 
back  after  something.  The  chimney  of  the  house  was  knocked  down  by  a  drift; 
it  fell  on  him  and  killed  him.  The  wife  and  the  brood  of  children  stayed  in  the 
rain  and  darkness  on  the  hillside  all  night,  calling  and  trying  to  locate  each  other 
and  the  father. 

"In  another  case  an  infant  was  torn  from  the  arms  of  its  mother.  Its  little 
body  was  found  in  a  drift  twenty  miles  down  the  Catawba. 

"They  told  me  of  another  case  where  a  baby  and  a  larger  sister  were  caught 
by  the  waters  and  swept  down  into  a  drift,  where  they  remained  until  late  the  next 
day.  The  baby  was  well  and  unharmed !  the  sister,  who  held  the  baby  in  her  arms, 
died  shortly  after  the  rescue. 

"Another  man  lost  everything  he  had — home,  land,  and  stock — except  one  crib 
of  corn.  He  told  his  sons  to  keep  five  bushels  for  the  family  and  to  divide  the  other 
among  the  neighbors. 

"Many  similar  accounts  of  tragedy  and  sacrifice  are  given  by  the  people  in  this 
stricken  territory. 

"They  have  gone  to  work  on  their  public  roads,  using  the  money  appropriated 
by  the  General  Government.  The  relief  committees  are  doing  a  magnificent  and 
unselfish  work  in  all  the  counties.  Every  one  is  eager  with  sympathy  and  the 
helping  hand,  and  ready  to  give  as  necessity  requires. 

"Mr.  Edward  E.  Britton,  chairman  of  the  relief  committee  of  the  State,  and 
Mr.  George  Holderness,  of  Tarboro,  accompanied  me  through  the  whole  trip.  Mr. 
Britton  has  done  his  work  splendidly.  He  has  omitted  no  detail.  Mr.  Holderness 
is  one  of  the  leading  business  men  of  eastern  North  Carolina.  The  people  to  whom 
he  went  appreciated  his  coming  and  his  words  of  encouragement  and  sympathy. 
Large  crowds  greeted  us  at  Wilkesboro,  Morganton,  Marion,  and  at  places  where 
the  train  stopped. 

"Mr.  R.  E.  Simpson,  general  superintendent  of  the  Southern  Railway,  carried 
us  in  his  private  car.  He  took  personal  supervision  of  the  rebuilding  the  road 
from  Winston-Salem  to  Wilkesboro.  On  the  Sunday  of  the  flood,  at  the  head  of 
his  wrecking  crew,  he  waded  on  foot  through  the  mud  and  water,  ankle  deep  to 
waist  deep,  from  Donnaha  to  Wilkesboro,  a  distance  of  sixty  miles,  employing 
everybody  along  the  way  that  would  work,  organizing  squads  to  open  the  railroad 
as  soon  as  possible,  regardless  of  expense.    He  did  open  his  road  in  ten  days. 

"The  Southern  has  shown  the  finest  spirit  of  enterprise  and  determination  in 
rehabilitating  its  destroyed  lines. 

"I  drove  yesterday  afternoon  from  Old  Fort  to  Ridgecrest  in  a  buggy.  I 
understood  that  a  work  train  would  go  over  the  road  last  night. 

"The  C.  C.  and  0.  Railroad,  from  Marion  on  to  Johnson  City,  was  severely 
injured.  I  do  not  know  how  much  it  suffered,  but  I  have  understood  that  they 
are  working  to  build  it  again,  and  have  thousands  of  men  employed  and  the  most 
improved  machinery.  They  tell  me  that  they  have  shown  an  energy  and  determina- 
tion similar  to  that  exhibited  by  the  Southern. 

"So  far  as  I  know,  all  cases  of  necessity  have  been  ministered  to  in  the  stricken 
country.  The  winter  is  coming  on.  The  money  for  relief  continues  to  come  in. 
If  there  be  demands  for  larger  amounts,  I  will  let  the  people  of  North  Carolina 
know  it,  and  I  am  sure  that  they  will  come  to  the  rescue." 

16 


(XIII) 
FISHERIES  COMMISSION 


APPOINTMENT  OF  FISHERIES  COMMISSION  BOARD 

Until  the  present  year  the  regulation  of  the  fisheries  of  the  State  has  been 
local,  and  by  means  of  acts  relating  to  fisheries  that  have  affected  simply  local 
areas.  The  establishment  of  the  Fisheries  Commission  for  the  State  of  North 
Carolina  by  the  General  Assembly  is  a  recognition  of  the  fact  that  this  great 
industry  is  not  merely  of  local  interest,  but  of  interest  to  the  entire  State  as  one 
of  her  greatest  resources.  Similar  acts  relating  to  the  fisheries  have  been  considered 
by  previous  General  Assemblies,  and  in  several  instances  came  very  near  passing 
both  houses.  Governor  Craig  became  interested  in  such  an  act  at  the  beginning  of 
his  administration  in  1913,  and  advocated  a  bill  to  establish  a  fisheries  commission 
that  was  introduced  in  the  General  Assembly  of  that  year.  During  the  next  two 
years  he  manifested  in  many  ways  his  continued  interest  in  the  fisheries  of  the 
State,  and  it  was  his  opinion  that  the  best  results  in  regard  to  their  conservation, 
protection,  and  increased  value  were  dependent  upon  an  adequate  law  that  would 
affect  the  State  at  large.  He  favored  the  bill  that  was  introduced  in  1915,  and 
assisted  in  every  way  to  bring  it  before  the  General  Assembly. 

This  bill  authorized  the  Governor  to  appoint  a  fisheries  commission  board,  con- 
sisting of  five  members,  at  least  three  of  whom  should  be  from  the  several  fishing 
districts  of  the  State.  The  General  Assembly  passed  this  bill,  and  it  was  ratified 
on  March  4,  1915,  and  is  entitled  "An  act  to  establish  a  Fisheries  Commission  to 
protect  the  fisheries  of  Worth  Carolina."  It  will  be  found  in  chapter  84,  page  102, 
Public  Laws  of  1915. 

In  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  this  act  the  Governor,  on  April  7,  1915, 
named  the  following  members  as  the  Fisheries  Commission  Board : 

E.  Chambers  Smith,  of  Wake  County For  a  term  expiring  June  1,  1917 

A.  V.  Cobb,  ot  Bertie  County For  a  term  expiring  June  1,  1917 

F.  T.  Winslow,  of  Perquimans  County... For  a  term  expiring  June  1,  1919 

W.  M.  Webb,  of  Carteret  County For  a  term  expiring  June  1,  1919 

E.  H.  Freeman,  of  New  Hanover  County. For  a  term  expiring  June  1,  1919. 

The  Governor  recommended  to  this  board  that  they  elect  Mr.  H.  L.  Gibbs,  of 
Hyde  County,  Fisheries  Commissioner.  Mr.  Gibbs  had  previously  held  a  position 
as  Shell-fish  Commissioner,  and  had  made  good  in  that  place. 

The  Commission  met  and  organized,  electing  Mr.  E.  Chambers  Smith  chairman 
and  Mr.  A.  V.  Cobb  secretary.    Mr.  H.  L.  Gibbs  was  elected  Fish  Commissioner. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  National  Association  of  Fish  Commissioners  held  in  Wil- 
mington, N.  C,  April  19,  1915,  Hon.  William  C.  Redfield,  Secretary  of  Commerce, 
stated  that  in  the  passage  of  the  act  establishing  the  Fisheries  Commission  in  North 
Carolina  for  the  protection  of  the  fisheries  of  the  State,  North  Carolina  now  has 
the  best  fisheries  act  of  any  State  in  the  Union.  He  further  stated  as  his  opinion 
that  the  full  benefits  of  the  act  could  not  be  obtained  in  a  year  or  two,  and,  there- 
fore, it  should  be  kept  in  force,  and  nothing  done  to  repeal  it,  as  by  it  the  State 
would  derive  practically  all  the  benefits  that  the  Governor  and  others  interested  in 
its  passage  believed  would  accrue  from  it. 


(XIV) 
STATE  HIGHWAY  COMMISSION 


APPOINTMENT  OF  MEMBERS  OF  THE  HIGHWAY  COMMISSION 

The  good  roads  movement  in  North  Carolina  was  given  such  an  impetus  during 
the  administration  of  Governor  Craig  that  it  has  become  a  matter  of  vital  interest 
to  practically  the  entire  State. 

The  Governor  was  instrumental  in  bringing  before  the  Legislature  the  need  of 
a  State  highway  commission.  The  act  creating  this  commission  was  passed  by  the 
General  Assembly  of  North  Carolina  in  1915,  and  is  one  of  the  most  important 
and  constructive  acts  passed  by  them  in  the  past  four  years.  This  act  is  entitled 
"An  act  to  create  a  State  Highway  Commission,"  and  will  be  found  in  chapter  113, 
page  186,  of  the  Laws  of  1915.  It  was  ratified  on  the  5th  of  March,  1915.  The 
act  provided,  that  the  Governor  should  appoint  on  the  said  commission  a  citizen 
from  the  eastern  part  of  the  State,  one  from  the  central,  and  one  from  the  western. 
It  further  provided  that  one  of  these  appointees  should  be  a  member  of  the  minor- 
ity political  party.  Accordingly,  on  March  13,  1915,  the  Governor  appointed  the 
following  as  members  of  the  State  Highway  Commission : 

Hon.  E.  C.  Duncan  of  Carteret  County, 
Col.  Bennehan  Cameron  of  Durham  County, 
Hon.  Guy  V.  Roberts  of  Madison  County. 

The  act  further  provided  that  the  Governor  designate  as  members  of  this  com- 
mission a  professor  of  the  University  of  North  Carolina  and  a  professor  of  the 
A.  and  M.  College.    He  accordingly  appointed,  on  March  13,  1915 : 

Prof.  Marvin  Hendricks  Stacey  of  the  University  of  North  Carolina, 
Prof.  W.  C.  Biddick  of  the  College  of  the  A.  and  M.  Arts, 
Prof.  M.  H.  Stacey,  later  resigned,  and 

Prof.  T.  F.  Hickerson  of  the  University  of  North  Carolina  was  appointed 
in  his  stead. 

The  act  further  provided  that  the  Governor  should  be  a  member  of  the  com- 
mission, and  also  the  State  Geologist. 

Therefore  the  State  Highway  Commission,  as  constituted  by  the  act  of  the 
Legislature  and  by  appointment  of  the  Governer,  was  composed  as  follows: 

The  Governor, 

Dr.  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt  (State  Geologist), 

Prof.  T.  F.  Hickerson, 

Prof.  W.  C.  Biddick, 

Hon.  E.  C.  Duncan, 

Col.  Bennehan  Cameron, 

Hon.  Guy  V.  Boberts. 

The  first  meeting  was  held  on  March  21,  1915,  in  the  office  of  the  Governor, 
who  called  the  meeting  to  order.  It  was  organized  by  the  unanimous  election  of 
the  Governor  as  chairman  and  Dr.  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt  as  secretary. 


250        LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

The  work  which  this  commission  has  been  able  to  do  since  its  organization  has 
proved  conclusively  its  value  to  the  State  in  the  general  road  work. 

During  his  administration  Governor  Craig  has  been  closely  identified  with  the 
road  work  of  the  State,  and  he  has  assisted  in  every  way  possible  in  obtaining 
results  from  the  various  road  bills  that  were  passed  by  the  General  Assemblies  of 
1913  and  1915.  He  advocated  and  urged  the  passage  of  the  bills  authorizing  the 
use  of  the  State's  prisoners  in  the  construction  of  public  roads — notably  in  the 
construction  of  the  Hickory  Nut  Gap  Highway  in  Henderson  County  and  links 
of  the  Central  Highway  in  McDowell  County  and  in  Madison  County. 


(XV) 
SUPPLEMENTAL  PAPERS 


Note. — Public  papers  issuing  from  the  office  of  the  Governor  after  the  preceding  mat- 
ter had  gone  to  press. 


SUPPLEMENTAL  PAPERS 

1.  Employment  of  additional  counsel  in  suit  of  Republic  of  Cuba 

v.  State  of  North  Carolina. 

2.  Cuba  withdraws  her  application  to  file  suit  in  the   United 

States  Supreme  Court,  and  message  of  the   Governor  an- 
nouncing the  fact  to  the  General  Assembly. 

3.  Resolutions  of  the  General  Assembly  in  regard  to  withdrawal 

of  petition  by  the  Republic  of  Cuba,  and  expression  of  appre- 
ciation for  services  of  Senator  Overman. 

4.  Appropriation  from  earnings  of  the  State's  Prison  to  families 

of  prisoners.     Statement  for  the  press,  December  22,  1916. 

5.  General  Julian  S.  Carr  requested  to  act  as  chairman  and  form 

committee  for  erection  of  monument  on  Mitchell's  Peak. 
Statement  for  the  press,  December,  1916. 


(1) 

EMPLOYMENT  OF  ADDITIONAL  COUNSEL  LN  SUIT  OF  REPUBLIC  OF 
CUBA  V.  STATE  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 

(Telegram) 

Governor  Locke  Craig,  Washington,  D.  C,  January  2,  1917. 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 
Think  it  important  to  employ  Mr.  Charles  Henry  Butler  to  appear  in  the  bond 
ease.  Will  appear  for  a  nominal  fee,  not  to  argue  ease  in  the  Supreme  Court,  but 
in  bringing  out  certain  information  which  in  my  judgment  will  absolutely  settle 
the  matter  favorably  to  the  State,  on  account  of  his  association  with  certain 
diplomats  here.  He  has  already  gotten  certain  valuable  information,  but  does  not 
wish  to  go  further  unless  nominally  employed.  Lee  g_  Overman. 


(Telegram) 

Senator  Lee  S.  Overman,  Raleigh,  U.  C,  January  2,  1917. 

Washington,  D.  C. 
I  authorize  and  request  you  to  employ  Mr.  Charles  Henry  Butler  in  the  bond 
case  on  such  terms  as  to  you  may  seem  just  and  proper.  Locke  Craig 

Governor. 


(2) 

CUBA  WITHDRAWS  HER  APPLICATION  TO  FILE  SUIT  IN  THE  UNITED 

STATES  SUPREME  COURT,  AND  MESSAGE  OF  THE  GOVERNOR 

ANNOUNCING  THE  FACT  TO  THE  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY 

(Telegram) 

Governor  Locke  Craig,  Washington,  D.  C,  January  5,  1917. 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 
Being  informed,  from  the  recent  debate  on  the  floor  of  the  Senate,  for  the  first 
time  of  the  real  character  of  the  North  Carolina  repudiated  bonds,  the  Cuban 
Government  informed  me  this  morning  that  these  bonds  were  donated  by  American 
bondholders  to  a  charitable  institution  in  Cuba  and  not  to  the  Cuban  Government, 
and  that  the  Republic  of  Cuba  had  revoked  the  decree  authorizing  the  suit  against 
the  State  of  North  Carolina  to  validate  these  bonds.  Lee  S.  Overman. 


254        LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

(Telegram) 

Goveenoe  Locke  Ceaig,  Washington,  D.  C,  January  5,  1917. 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 
The   following  is   the  decree  issued   by   President   of  the  Republic   of   Cuba 
referred  to  in  my  conversation  with  you  over  the  'phone  this  afternoon : 

"The  minister  of  Cuba  to  the  United  States  is  authorized  to  make  public 
that  the  President  of  the  Republic  of  Cuba  has  dictated  a  decree  in  date  of 
January  4,  1917,  the  more  important  part  of  which  is  as  follows: 

"  'Whereas,  the  necessary  claim  for  the  payment  of  said  bonds 
and  coupons  has  been  presented  to  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United 
States; 

"  'Whereas,  by  the  terms  in  which  the  question  is  presented  the 
Government  does  not  hold  convenient  to  its  interests  and  ends  to 
continue  the  suit  begun  against  the  State  of  North  Carolina  for  the 
payment  of  said  bonds  and  coupons:' 

"At  the  proposal  of  the  Secretary  of  Justice  I  resolve  to  revoke  and  leave 
without  force  the  decree,  No.  1438,  of  July  24,  1916,  and  therefore,  without 
effect  the  appointment  therein  made,  as  attorneys,  of  Messrs.  Marcus  H. 
Burnstine  and  Guillermo  Portela  Y.  Moller,  to  whom  this  shall  be  made 
known,  to  the  proper  objects  and  consequences. 

"The  Secretary  of  Justice  is  encharged  with  the  execution  of  this  decree." 

The  Minister  of  Cuba  to  the  United  States  is  also  authorized  to  state  that  the 
claim  has  been  made  only  by  the  Department  of  Public  Health  and  Charities, 
though,  according  to  law  the  President  and  the  Secretary  of  Justice  were  called 
upon  to  give  the  powers  of  attorneys  for  the  presentation  of  the  claim. 

Lee  S.  Oveeman. 


State  of  !N~oeth  Caeolina 

Executive  Depaetment 

Raleigh 

To  the  Honorable,  the  General  Assembly  of  North  Carolina: 

I  have  the  honor  to  inform  you  that  President  Menocal  of  the  Republic  of 
Cuba  has  issued  a  decree  ordering  the  withdrawal  of  the  petition  which  the  Repub- 
lic of  Cuba  recently  filed  in  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States  with  the  view 
of  enforcing  the  payment  by  the  State  of  North  Carolina  of  Reconstruction  Bonds 
amounting  to  more  than  two  million  dollars. 

I  have  received  from  Senator  Overman  the  following  telegram : 

"Being  informed,  from  the  recent  debate  on  the  floor  of  the  Senate,  for 
the  first  time  of  the  real  character  of  the  North  Carolina  repudiated  bonds, 
the  Cuban  Government  informed  me  this  morning  that  these  bonds  were 
donated  by  American  bondholders  to  a  charitable  institution  in  Cuba,  and  not 
to  the  Cuban  Government,  and  that  the  Republic  of  Cuba  had  revoked  the 
decree  authorizing  the  suit  against  the  State  of  North  Carolina  to  validate 
these  bonds." 

The  decree  of  President  Menocal  is  as  follows : 


SUPPLEMENTAL  PAPERS  255 

"The  minister  of  Cuba  to  the  United  States  is  authorized  to  make  public 
that  the  President  of  the  Republic  of  Cuba  has  dictated  a  decree  in  date  of 
January  4,  1917,  the  more  important  part  of  which  is  as  follows: 

"  'Whereas,  the  necessary  claim  for  the  payment  of  said  bonds 
and  coupons  has  been  presented  to  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United 
States; 

"  'Whereas,  by  the  terms  in  which  the  question  is  presented  the 
Government  does  not  hold  convenient  to  its  interests  and  ends  to 
continue  the  suit  begun  against  the  State  of  North  Carolina  for  the 
payment  of  said  bonds  and  coupons.' 

"At  the  proposal  of  the  Secretary  of  Justice,  I  resolve  to  revoke  and  leave 
without  force  the  decree,  No.  1438,  of  July  24,  1916,  and  therefore,  without 
effect,  the  appointment  therein  made  as  attorneys,  of  Messrs.  Marcus  B. 
Burnstine  and  Guillermo  Portela  Y.  Moller,  to  whom  this  shall  be  made 
known,  to  the  proper  objects  and  consequences. 

"The  Secretary  of  Justice  is  encharged  with  the  execution  of  this  decree. 

"The  minister  of  Cuba  to  the  United  States  is  also  authorized  to  state 
that  the  claim  has  been  made  only  by  the  Department  of  Public  Health  and 
Charities,  though,  according  to  law,  the  President  and  the  Secretary  of 
Justice  were  called  upon  to  give  the  powers  of  attorneys  for  the  presentation 
of  the  claim." 

On  Tuesday,  the  2d  day  of  January,  Senator  Lee  S.  Overman,  of  Worth  Caro- 
lina, introduced  a  resolution  in  the  Senate  of  the  United  States  for  the  purpose 
of  instituting  an  inquiry  to  ascertain  how  and  from  whom  the  Republic  of  Cuba 
secured  these  bonds.  In  his  remarks  to  the  Senate  on  the  resolution,  Senator 
Overman  strongly  set  forth  the  lawless  constitution  of  the  General  Assembly  that 
provided  for  their  issue,  and  the  dishonesty  and  debauchery  of  the  whole  scheme. 

The  discussion  by  Senator  Overman  on  the  floor  of  the  Senate  gave  wide  pub- 
licity to  the  character  of  the  bonds,  to  their  dishonor  and  repudiation  by  the  State 
of  North  Carolina. 

When,  from  this  discussion,  the  Government  of  Cuba  became  informed  of  the 
facts,  the  President  of  Cuba  dictated  the  decree  above  set  forth,  revoking  the 
authority  for  bringing  the  suit  against  the  State  of  North  Carolina,  and  directing 
that  the  petition  be  withdrawn. 

We  are  deeply  gratified  that  the  Eepublic  of  Cuba  has  refused  to  participate 
or  be  a  party  to  the  methods  that  have  been  employed  by  the  holders  of  these  dis- 
honored bonds.  We  have  had  an  abiding  interest  and  fraternal  feeling  for  the 
people  of  Cuba,  and  in  the  war  for  her  emancipation  our  soldiers  bore  a  conspicu- 
ous part.  With  pride  and  gratification  we  have  watched  the  development  of  the 
Island  Eepublic,  and  rejoice  now  that  she  has  generously  and  gladly  removed  all 
cause  of  any  estrangement  between  us. 

We  hoped  from  the  beginning  that  the  Republic  of  Cuba  was  imposed  upon 
as  to  the  facts  of  these  bonds  before  filing  this  petition  in  the  Supreme  Court  of 
the  United  States. 

We  rejoice  that  Cuba,  as  the  States  of  the  Union,  after  ascertaining  the  facts, 
has  refused  to  be  a  party  to  the  unrighteous  transaction. 

The  attorneys  for  the  State  were  confident  of  prevailing  in  the  action  before 
the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States  if  tried  to  a  conclusion.  They  had  pre- 
pared the  case  for  presentation  with  diligence  and  ability,  and  had  filed  briefs 
which  gave  evidence  of  profound  thought  and  of  long  and  thorough  research. 


256   LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

The  determination  of  the  Republic  of  Cuba  to  withdraw  this  action  accom- 
plishes substantially  what  we  would  have  secured  by  a  favorable  judgment  in  the 
Supreme  Court.  By  the  action  of  Cuba  we  have  obtained  this  satisfactory  result 
without  the  uncertainty  and  large  expense  of  a  lawsuit. 

The  State  of  North  Carolina  acknowledges  with  gratitude  the  high  sense  of 
duty  of  Senator  Overman  to  her,  and  his  valuable  services  in  this  situation  fraught 
with  anxiety  and  danger.  The  resolution  and  the  discussion  by  him  in  the  United 
States  Senate,  and  the  subsequent  withdrawal  of  the  action  by  the  Republic  of 
Cuba,  has  given  international  publicity  to  the  invalidity  and  the  dishonor  of 
these  bonds. 

This  action  by  Senator  Overman  is  characteristic  of  the  alertness  and  devotion 
of  the  State's  representatives  at  Washington  to  her  every  interest. 

Locke  Craig, 
January  5,  1917.  Governor. 


(3) 

RESOLUTIONS  OF  THE  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY  IN  REGARD  TO  WITH- 
DRAWAL OF  PETITION  BY  THE  REPUBLIC  OF  CUBA,  AND 
EXPRESSION  OF  APPRECIATION  FOR  SERVICES 
OF  SENATOR  OVERMAN 


Resolved  by  the  House  of  Representatives,  the  Senate  Concurring: 

Whereas,  we  learn  with  much  gratification  through  the  message  of  his  Excel- 
lency, the  Governor  of  Worth  Carolina,  that  his  Excellency,  Mr.  Menocal,  Presi- 
dent of  the  Republic  of  Cuba,  has  dictated  a  decree  withdrawing  the  petition  filed 
by  the  Republic  of  Cuba  in  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States  for  the  pur- 
pose of  enforcing  the  payment  by  the  State  of  North  Carolina  of  more  than  two 
million  dollars  of  "Reconstruction  Bonds";  and 

Whereas,  this  action  by  the  Republic  of  Cuba  was  taken  voluntarily  and 
promptly  as  soon  as  the  Republic  of  Cuba  became  acquainted  with  the  character 
of  the  bonds,  and  the  circumstances  under  which  they  were  isssued ; 

Now,  therefore,  be  it  Resolved: 

Section  1.  That  we  hereby  tender  to  our  sister  Republic  of  Cuba  our  profound 
thanks  for  her  patriotic  action  touching  this  matter  so  important  to  the  interests 
of  the  State  of  North  Carolina. 

Sec.  2.  That  we  hope  that  the  cordial  relations  between  the  Republic  of  Cuba 
and  all  of  the  States  of  the  Union  may  continue  to  the  welfare  of  both  countries. 

Sec.  3.  That  we  hereby  tender  to  Senator  Lee  S.  Overman  our  profound  thanks, 
and  an  expression  of  our  admiration  for  his  patriotic  and  successful  services  ren- 
dered the  State  of  North  Carolina  in  bringing  to  an  end  satisfactory  to  the  State 
this  lawsuit  brought  by  the  Republic  of  Cuba. 

In  the  General  Assembly  read  three  times  and  ratified  this  the  5th  day  of  Jan- 
uary, 1917. 


SUPPLEMENTAL  PAPERS  257 

(4) 

APPROPRIATION  FROM  EARNINGS  OF  THE  STATE'S  PRISON  TO 

FAMILIES  OF  PRISONERS.     STATEMENT  FOR  THE 

PRESS,  DECEMBER  22,  1916 

Governor  Craig  made  the  following  statement : 

"The  Board  of  Directors  of  the  State's  Prison  have  passed  a  resolution  appro- 
priating a  sum  of  money  necessary  to  give  ten  dollars  to  the  dependent  and  needy 
families  of  the  prisoners  confined  in  the  State's  Prison.  This  resolution  was 
passed  by  the  unanimous  vote  of  the  Board  of  Directors,  on  the  recommendation 
of  the  Governor. 

"During  my  administration  the  State's  Prison  has  been  more  prosperous  and 
successful,  I  believe,  than  ever  before.  It  has  made  clear,  above  all  expenses  of 
every  kind,  about  $400,000.  The  State  gets  the  benefit  of  this  large  surplus.  These 
net  earnings  of  the  prison  have  been  due  to  wise  and  economical  management,  and 
have  been  earned  by  the  labor  of  the  prisoners. 

"The  farm  has  been  managed  well,  and  has  succeeded  beyond  precedent.  Many 
prisoners  have  been  hired  out  to  the  Hardaway  Construction  Company,  at  the  price 
of  $1.50  and  $2  a  day,  under  the  supervision  of  the  prison. 

"While  the  prisoners  have  been  earning  this  money  for  the  State  the  dependent 
families  of  most  of  them  have  been  in  hard  circumstances  for  the  necessities  of 
life.  It  seems  to  me  but  just,  and  it  seemed  to  the  Prison  Board  but  just,  that  a 
small  sum  should  be  appropriated  by  the  Board  and  donated  to  the  dependent 
families  who  are  in  need.  A  large  amount  could  not  be  given  to  each  family — it 
would  aggregate  too  much,  and  then  it  might  be  wasted.  Under  this  resolution 
six  hundred  and  fifteen  families  will  be  aided,  making  the  total  of  $6,150. 

"The  hardships  of  winter  press  upon  the  poor. 

"In  this  time  of  universal  prosperity,  in  these  days  of  general  rejoicing  and 
benevolence  this  gift  from  the  Directors  of  the  Prison  Board  will  relieve  some 
suffering  in  the  lowly  homes  of  the  unfortunate,  and  may  be  to  all  a  testimonial 
that  the  State  remembers  them  in  sympathy. 

"The  appropriation  of  this  money  made  by  the  Prison  Board  may  be  some 
stretch  of  legal  authority,  but  every  citizen  of  this  State  can  be  assured  that  if  the 
Legislature  should  disapprove  of  this  appropriation,  or,  if  by  legal  process,  any 
citizen  of  this  State  should  demand  its  return  to  the  treasury  of  the  prison,  every 
dollar  of  it  will  be  returned  with  promptness. 

"I  will  bring  this  subject  to  the  attention  of  the  General  Assembly,  and  make 
recommendations  in  accordance  with  the  action  of  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the 
State's  Prison,  with  the  view  that  the  subject  may  be  systematically  managed." 

The  Governor  stated  that  he  would  further  recommend  to  the  General  Assem- 
bly that  the  Directors  of  the  State's  Prison  retain  a  sufficient  amount  of  the  earn- 
ings of  the  prison  to  construct  a  modern  prison  at  the  State  farm,  equipped  for 
the  best  management  and  care  of  the  prisoners. 


258        LETTERS  AND  PAPERS  OF  GOVERNOR  LOCKE  CRAIG 

(5) 

GENERAL  JULIAN  S.  CARR  REQUESTED  TO  ACT  AS  CHAIRMAN  AND 

FORM    COMMITTEE    FOR    ERECTION  OF   MONUMENT 

ON  MITCHELL'S  PEAK.     STATEMENT  FOR 

THE  PRESS,  DECEMBER,  1916 

Governor  Locke  Craig  yesterday  appointed  Gen.  Julian  S.  Carr,  of  Durham, 
chairman  of  the  Mitchell  Monument  Committee.  Under  this  commission  General 
Carr  will  have  complete  management  and  control  of  the  building  of  a  monument 
to  Dr.  Elisha  Mitchell  on  the  summit  of  the  mountain  which  hears  his  name.  The 
General  will,  if  he  desires,  appoint  a  committee  composed  of  such  persons  as  he 
may  select,  and  to  the  number  that  he  may  deem  advisable,  to  assist  him  in  securing 
the  monument,  the  design  for  it,  and  the  erection  of  it. 

"I  am  delighted  that  General  Carr  has  consented  to  take  charge  of  this  work," 
said  Governor  Craig  yesterday.  "It  would  not  be  too  much  to  say  that  he  is  the 
most  generous  and  public-spirited  citizen  of  the  State.  He  has  always  been  most 
generous  to  every  noble  purpose,  and  all  the  people  of  North  Carolina  love  and 
admire  him. 

"Since  he  has  consented  to  undertake  the  building  of  this  monument,  we  all 
know  that  it  will  be  done,  and  most  handsomely  done.  This  mountain  is  the  most 
conspicuous  place  in  eastern  America.  Tens  of  thousands  of  tourists  are  visiting 
it  every  summer.  The  number  will  rapidly  increase  as  the  facilities  of  transporta- 
tion are  improved,  and  as  the  surpassing  grandeur  of  the  mountain  becomes  better 
known. 

"General  Carr  is  a  native  of  Chapel  Hill,  a  graduate  of  the  University  of 
North  Carolina,  at  which  Dr.  Mitchell  did  his  life-work,  and  won  his  fame.  While 
professor  at  the  University  Dr.  Mitchell  explored  the  mountains  of  western  North 
Carolina  in  connection  with  his  teaching  of  geology,  and  ascertained  that  Mount 
Mitchell  was  higher  than  Mount  Washington,  and  the  highest  land  east  of  the 
Mississippi. 

"When  Dr.  Mitchell  lost  his  life  on  the  mountain  General  Carr  was  a  lad  living 
at  Chapel  Hill.  He  often  saw  the  great  old  doctor,  and  knew  of  his  ability  and 
fine  personality.  General  Carr  has  always  been  a  devoted  son  of  his  alma  mater 
and  an  admirer  of  Dr.  Mitchell.  The  erection  of  this  monument  on  Mitchell's 
Peak  will  be  to  him  a  task  of  love  and  patriotism.  He  will  be  identified  with  this 
place  and  this  monument,  and  the  people  of  North  Carolina  will  acknowledge  their 
debt  of  gratitude.  The  monument  will  preserve  from  any  possible  desecration  the 
grave  of  Dr.  Mitchell,  and  will  stand  as  a  suitable  memorial  on  this  sublime 
height." 


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